Beers Criteria: What Older Adults Need to Know About Risky Medications
When you’re over 65, some medications that once helped you can start hurting you. That’s where the Beers Criteria, a list of potentially inappropriate medications for older adults, updated regularly by the American Geriatrics Society comes in. It’s not a rulebook—it’s a warning system. Doctors use it to spot drugs that increase fall risk, confuse the brain, or strain the kidneys in older bodies. These aren’t just side effects; they’re preventable dangers that send tens of thousands of seniors to the ER every year.
The Beers Criteria includes common pills you might not think twice about—like antihistamines for allergies, sleep aids, and even some painkillers. For example, diphenhydramine (found in Benadryl and many nighttime cold meds) can cause memory fog and dizziness in older people. Benzodiazepines like diazepam and lorazepam? They’re linked to higher fall and fracture risk. Even some heart and bladder meds on this list aren’t banned outright—they just need extra caution. The geriatric prescribing guidelines behind the Beers Criteria focus on one thing: less is often more. Your body changes as you age. Your liver and kidneys don’t process drugs the same way. What was safe at 40 might be risky at 70.
What’s missing from the list matters too. The Beers Criteria doesn’t say you can’t take these drugs ever—it says to question them. Maybe you’ve been on a sleep pill for years because nothing else worked. But now there are safer options: better sleep habits, non-drug therapies, or newer medications with fewer side effects. The medication safety goal isn’t to strip you of all meds—it’s to keep you independent, alert, and free from preventable harm. Many seniors on multiple prescriptions don’t even know why they’re taking them. A simple review with your doctor, using the Beers Criteria as a guide, can cut out unnecessary pills and reduce your risk of bad reactions.
You’ll find real-world examples in the articles below: how sedating drugs increase fall risk, why certain painkillers are dangerous for seniors, how drug interactions mess with kidney function, and what to do when a medication starts causing anxiety or confusion. These aren’t theory pieces—they’re practical guides written for people who live with these drugs every day. Whether you’re a senior managing your own pills, a caregiver helping a parent, or a provider reviewing a patient’s list, the Beers Criteria is your starting point for safer care. The next step? Ask the right questions. And the articles below show you exactly how.
