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Drugs that could cause problems

The Beers Criteria list medications known to cause problems for older patients.

Named for Dr. Mark H. Beers, who in the late 1980s studied Boston-area nursing home residents, the list of drugs and effects was updated last year for the first time in a decade.

According to the criteria, some drugs and their possible side effects include:

Benzodiazepines (Lorazepam and diazepam, for example) — Can increase risk of delirium, falls, and car accidents.

NSAIDS (ibuprofen and naproxen, for example) — Increase risk of gastrointestinal bleeding

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Corticosteroids — Older adults at risk of delirium should avoid these.

Antipsychotics — Associated with risk of stroke and mortality in those with dementia.

The full list can be found at www.americangeriatrics.org