Medications that Increase the Risk of Falls
30 November 2023
Some medications may cause loss of balance or increase the risk of falls.
It is recommended to review your regular medication list with your family doctor or pharmacist, including off-the-counter medications and food additives.
Some medications may cause dizziness, fatigue, lack of sharpness, confusion, blurred vision, drop in blood pressure upon changing positions, etc. These side effects and others may increase the risk of falls.
If feasible, a doctor may recommend adjustments to the medication therapy:
- Discontinuation of certain drugs
- Replacement of certain drugs with safer alternatives
- Lowering drug doses to a reduced amount
Pay attention
Pay attention
These changes will be performed by a doctor to avoid side effects resulting from medication adjustments.
Which types of medications can increase the risk of falls
Psycho-active medications
- Antiseizure drugs may cause drowsiness, blurred vision, fainting, and a tendency to sleepiness
- Anti-depressant drugs (including drugs from the SSRI family and tricyclic drugs) may cause drowsiness
- Anti-psychotic drugs: these drugs may affect vision and alertness
- Various benzodiazepines administered for inducing sleep and anxiety therapy may cause headaches, nausea, and concentration difficulties in the morning
- Opioids: administered for alleviating pain and for muscle relaxation
- Hypnotic sedatives
Medications that may affect body balance
- Anticholinergic medications administered for conditions such as dizziness and for diseases such as urinary retention (among others) may cause substantial blurred vision and blood pressure changes
- Antihistamines, especially from the first generation, may cause drowsiness and loss of balance
- Medications affecting blood pressure may cause dizziness and sharp drop in blood pressure, particularly following a change in body position
- Medications for balancing sugar levels may cause sharp drop in the sugar level and trigger fainting or loss of balance
