Taking Charge | Good Medical Care for the Elderly and How To Get It

Appendix J

Medications and Patient Characteristics That Place Elders

at Risk for Adverse Drug Reactions

Below are the specific medications, classes of medications, and patient characteristics that Dr. Mark H. Beers and Dr. Jerry Gurwitz have identified as placing the elderly at high risk for potential adverse drug reactions. You will want to identify each one that applies to your loved one and keep this record in your three-ring binder. (Check all that apply)

Specific Medications:

	Digoxin
	Coumadin, warfarin
	Lithium
	Chlopropamide

Class of Medication:

	Anticonvulsants
	Antipyschotics
	Benzodiazepine long-acting (half-life > 24 hours)
	Benzodiazepine intermediate-acting (half-life 10-24 hours)
	Narcotic analgesics
	Anticholinergics

Patient Characteristics:

	Number of active chronic medical diagnoses (> 6)
	Number of doses of medication per day (> 12)
	Nine or more medications
	Prior adverse drug reaction
	Low body weight or body mass index (< 22 kg/m2)
	Advanced age (> 85)
	Decreased renal function (< 50 ml/min)

Disclaimer: See the authors' disclaimer.

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