preventing falls in your communityKnow the common medicines that increase your chances of falling.
Some medicines or combinations of medicines have side effects that make you feel drowsy, dizzy, or light-headed. These may cause you to lose your balance or feel unsteady on your feet. Talk with your pharmacist and doctor about all of your medications and side effects.
If you are taking one or more of the medications listed below, do not stop taking it without your doctor’s permission. Stopping some medications
abruptly can be dangerous.
Learn More
To learn the prescription medications that increase the risk of falls visithttp://uncnews.unc.edu/images/stories/news/health/2008/drugslist.pdf.
| Medications used for: | Common Medications |
|---|---|
| Angina or heart problems | Nitroglycerin, Clonidine, isosorbide, blood pressure drugs |
| Antiarrhythmics- used to normalize heart rhythm | Quinidine, procaineamide (Procan SR), propafenone (Rhythmol), propranolol (Inderal), verapamil (Calan SR), digoxin |
Anticonvulsants-epilepsy, chronic neuropathic pain |
Phenytoin (Dilantin), carbamazepine (Tegretol), gabapentin (Neurontin), lamotrigine (Lamictal), valproic acid (Depakene), valproate (Depakote), topiramate (Topamax) |
Antipsychotics – Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder |
Olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Risperdal), quetiapine (Seroquel), aripiprazole (Abilify), haloperidol (Haldol) |
| Anxiety or calming your nerves | Lorazepam, alprazolam, diazepam |
| Arthritis or inflammation | Ibuprofen, naproxen, Tylenol PM |
| Colds and/or allergies | Pseudoephedrine, diphenhydramine (Benadryl), loratidine |
| Depression | Fluoxetine, paroxetine, sertraline, citalopram |
| Diabetes | Glyburide, Glipizide, Glimepiride, insulin |
| Fluid retention | Furosemide, bumetanide, hydrochlorothiazide, torsemide, spironolactone |
| Muscle relaxants to relax muscles | Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), methocarbamol (Robaxin), baclofen |
| Nausea and vomiting or motion sickness | Meclizine, dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) |
| Pain | Morphine, hydrocodone/acetaminophen (vicodin), Darvocet, Percocet |
| Sleeping problems like insomnia | Ambien, Lunesta, trazodone, amitriptyline, Tylenol PM |
| Stomach ulcers, heartburn or acid reflux | Omeprazole (Prilosec), Protonix, Aciphex, Nexium, Ranitidine (Zantac), Famotidine (Pepcid), Cimetidine (Tagamet) |