Ann Arbor: Tranquilizers, antidepressants, opioids and anti-psychotic medications carry special risks for older people, alone or in combination. The sharpest rise occurred in seniors living in rural areas, where
the rate of doctor visits by seniors taking combinations of such drugs –
opioids, antidepressants, tranquilizers and antipsychotics – more than
tripled. This “polypharmacy” of drugs that act on the central nervous system
is concerning, the researchers say, because of the special risks to
older adults that come with combining multiple such medications. Falls –
and the injuries that can result from them – are the chief concern,
along with problems with driving, memory and thinking.
