Many medications can raise the risk of falling. The more medicines you take, the more likely it is that one or a combination of them will cause you to fall. Some drugs are well known for having side effects that enhance the risk of a person falling.
Anti-hypertensive drugs are prescribed by doctors to manage blood pressure and reduce the risk of stroke and heart failure. However, when you stand up from a laying or sitting posture, these medicines might cause your blood pressure to drop dangerously low (orthostatic hypotension). This is frequent in the elderly. The result is dizziness and faintness, which can easily lead to a fall.
Medications that depress the central nervous system, which impair awareness and induce slower reactions and movements, are among the most likely to contribute to falling. These are some examples:
- Anti-anxiety drugs, such as diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan)
- Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), an older antihistamine. Because it causes drowsiness, it is the most popular ingredient in over-the-counter sleep aids like Nyquil, Sominex, and Unisom. It is often combined with pain medications, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol PM), ibuprofen (Motrin PM, Advil PM), and naproxen (Aleve PM).
- Prescription medications to treat overactive bladder, such as oxybutynin (Ditropan) and tolterodine (Detrol).
- Tricyclic antidepressants. Most often doctors prescribe these types of antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), to help relieve chronic pain, especially nerve pain.
- Prescription sleep drugs, including zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), and eszopiclone (Lunesta).
- Narcotics (opioids), such as codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Percodan, Percocet), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and fentanyl (Duragesic).
Anti-anxiety medications such as diazepam (Valium) and lorazepam (Ativan) well Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), an older antihistamine. It is the most common element in over-the-counter sleep aids such as Nyquil, Sominex, and Unisom because it causes sleepiness. It is frequently used in conjunction with pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol PM), ibuprofen (Motrin PM, Advil PM), and naproxen (Aleve PM).
Prescription drugs such as oxybutynin (Ditropan) and tolterodine are used to treat hyperactive bladder (Detrol).
Antidepressants that are tricyclic. These antidepressants, such as amitriptyline (Elavil), are commonly prescribed by doctors to assist treat chronic pain, particularly nerve pain.
Prescription sleeping medications, such as zolpidem (Ambien), zaleplon (Sonata), and eszopiclone (Lunesta).
Codeine, hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (Percodan, Percocet), hydromorphone (Dilaudid), and fentanyl are examples of narcotics (opioids) (Duragesic).
