Links between medications and falls in the elderly: epidemiological aspects

Falls and Post-fall syndrome: Falls are a major health problem among the el derly because of the resulting psychological sequelae (sometimes termed << post-fall syndrome >>) and in a few cases serious injury, particularly hip fractures. Drugs and falls: The scientific literature on the link between medications and falls and fractures suggests that psychotropic drugs used in about 50% of residents of nursing homes and in 20% in the community cause around 30% of falls in nursing homes and 20% of falls in the community Psychotrops: The relative effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressors and the relative effect of short/long acting or sedative/hypnotic benzodiazepines are not well established. Cardiovascular drugs: Appropriate use of cardiovascular medications and ana lgesics does not increase the risk of fails. Prevention: These data reinforce the concept that reducing the use of psych otrops, especially benzodiazepines, is probably one of the most effective m eans of reducing serious falls in older people.