CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Bhopal: Sleep and depression medicines may increase the risk of falls among older adults
The risk of falling already increases with age, but some sleep and depression medicines may raise this risk further. Research has found that the use of some antidepressants and sleep medicines may be linked to incidents of falls among older adults. However, this does not mean every patient will face the same level of risk from these medicines.
One study found a higher risk of falls among people over the age of 65 who were taking sleep medicines. The risk was seen to be higher in particular with some benzodiazepines and medicines such as trazodone. Researchers also acknowledged that people with sleep problems or other serious health conditions may already have a higher risk of falling.
Risks related to antidepressant medicines have also emerged in different studies. Some research found about a 30% higher risk of falls with the use of SSRI and SNRI medicines, while a recent large study found that the risk of injury-causing falls with some first-line antidepressants was lower than in the untreated group. This makes it clear that the choice of medicine, the patient’s age, other medicines and overall health condition are all important factors.
Therefore, older patients should not suddenly stop taking sleep or depression medicines without medical advice. Doctors can review the need for the medicine, the dosage and other possible options.
Hashtags: #Health #Bhopal #Desksource #SleepMedicines #DepressionMedicines #FallRisk #DeskSource #Antidepressants #OlderAdults #Benzodiazepines
