Common medications may be fueling a rise in deadly senior falls
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The growing danger of falls among older Americans has alarmed health experts, with data showing that the risk of death from falls has tripled over the last 30 years.
While aging naturally comes with increased fragility, researchers argue that lifestyle factors alone cannot explain the steep rise in fatal outcomes.
A leading theory points to prescription medications known as fall risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs), which are widely prescribed for common health conditions in seniors.
These medications may be silently fueling one of the most underrecognized public health crises affecting the aging population.
Dr. Thomas A. Farley, a Washington, DC–based public health expert, recently wrote in JAMA that there is “plenty of reason to believe that the surge in fall deaths may be tied to the soaring use of certain prescription drugs.”
He explained that these medications can cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, slower reaction times, or problems with balance, all of which directly increase the risk of falling.
He emphasized that reducing reliance on unnecessary FRIDs “could be a simple but powerful way to reduce fall rates and help seniors remain safe, independent and active as they age.”
His findings add urgency to the call for closer examination of prescribing practices for older adults.
Among the most concerning medications are those that act on the brain and nervous system, which experts say have an especially strong connection to falls.
As Dr. Kenneth J. Perry, a South Carolina physician, explained, “The easiest way to think of medications that increase the risk of falls is any medication that changes a person’s ability to clearly perceive and navigate the world.”
Also read: Urgent recall affects 2 popular heart medications sold nationwide
Evidence supporting this concern has been mounting in recent years through international research.
A Swiss study that tracked adults aged 74 and older over a three-year period found that those on any FRID were 13% more likely to fall, 15% more likely to suffer an injurious fall, and 12% more likely to fall multiple times.
When multiple FRIDs were taken at the same time, the risks escalated dramatically, with researchers reporting 33% more injurious falls compared to peers not on these drugs.
These findings suggest that polypharmacy, or the use of multiple prescriptions simultaneously, compounds the risks for seniors.
Also read: Are you taking these two common medications? Here’s why they could be deadly when combined!
Such data highlight why medical professionals are urging careful evaluation of the necessity of every medication prescribed.
Despite the compelling associations, experts caution against overreaction or sudden discontinuation of medications.
Dr. Perry warned that while links between FRIDs and falls are strong, more evidence is needed to prove direct causation, since many seniors rely on these drugs for essential health management.
He stressed that “there is always a risk associated with taking any medication, but the intent is to make sure that the benefits outweigh the risks.”
For that reason, he recommends that seniors and caregivers engage in open conversations with primary care physicians who understand the patient’s unique medical history and vulnerabilities before making changes.
Read next: Are the medications you’re taking putting your heart at risk? Doctor exposes alarming truth!
Do you think seniors should reconsider their prescriptions if it means reducing their fall risk, or is the benefit of these medications too critical to give up? Share your thoughts in the comments—your perspective could help guide an important conversation about safety and health in aging.
While aging naturally comes with increased fragility, researchers argue that lifestyle factors alone cannot explain the steep rise in fatal outcomes.
A leading theory points to prescription medications known as fall risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs), which are widely prescribed for common health conditions in seniors.
These medications may be silently fueling one of the most underrecognized public health crises affecting the aging population.
Dr. Thomas A. Farley, a Washington, DC–based public health expert, recently wrote in JAMA that there is “plenty of reason to believe that the surge in fall deaths may be tied to the soaring use of certain prescription drugs.”
He explained that these medications can cause side effects such as drowsiness, dizziness, slower reaction times, or problems with balance, all of which directly increase the risk of falling.
He emphasized that reducing reliance on unnecessary FRIDs “could be a simple but powerful way to reduce fall rates and help seniors remain safe, independent and active as they age.”
His findings add urgency to the call for closer examination of prescribing practices for older adults.
Common medications may be fueling a rise in deadly senior falls. Image source: Ksenia Yakovleva / Unsplash
Among the most concerning medications are those that act on the brain and nervous system, which experts say have an especially strong connection to falls.
- Opioids, often used for pain management
- Benzodiazepines, commonly prescribed for anxiety and sleep
- Gabapentinoids, used to treat nerve pain
- Antidepressants, which millions of older Americans rely on daily
As Dr. Kenneth J. Perry, a South Carolina physician, explained, “The easiest way to think of medications that increase the risk of falls is any medication that changes a person’s ability to clearly perceive and navigate the world.”
Also read: Urgent recall affects 2 popular heart medications sold nationwide
Evidence supporting this concern has been mounting in recent years through international research.
A Swiss study that tracked adults aged 74 and older over a three-year period found that those on any FRID were 13% more likely to fall, 15% more likely to suffer an injurious fall, and 12% more likely to fall multiple times.
When multiple FRIDs were taken at the same time, the risks escalated dramatically, with researchers reporting 33% more injurious falls compared to peers not on these drugs.
These findings suggest that polypharmacy, or the use of multiple prescriptions simultaneously, compounds the risks for seniors.
Also read: Are you taking these two common medications? Here’s why they could be deadly when combined!
Such data highlight why medical professionals are urging careful evaluation of the necessity of every medication prescribed.
Despite the compelling associations, experts caution against overreaction or sudden discontinuation of medications.
Dr. Perry warned that while links between FRIDs and falls are strong, more evidence is needed to prove direct causation, since many seniors rely on these drugs for essential health management.
He stressed that “there is always a risk associated with taking any medication, but the intent is to make sure that the benefits outweigh the risks.”
For that reason, he recommends that seniors and caregivers engage in open conversations with primary care physicians who understand the patient’s unique medical history and vulnerabilities before making changes.
Read next: Are the medications you’re taking putting your heart at risk? Doctor exposes alarming truth!
