Fall Risk Medications for Seniors: Which Drugs Increase Injury Risk?
- by Simon Bruce
- Oct, 26 2025
Learn which drugs raise fall risk for seniors, see risk percentages, and get practical steps to stop, switch, or reduce these medications.
Read MoreMedication-Related Falls: Understanding the Risks
When dealing with medication-related falls, unintended trips or drops caused or worsened by drugs. Also known as drug‑induced falls, this issue sits at the crossroads of pharmacology and everyday safety.
One of the biggest drivers behind these incidents is Polypharmacy, the use of multiple prescription or over‑the‑counter medicines at the same time. When a patient takes five or more drugs, the chance of side‑effects stacking climbs sharply, and the body's ability to keep balance can slip. Polypharmacy influences fall incidence by creating overlapping sedative effects, blood‑pressure drops, and muscle weakness.
Among the culprits, Sedative medications, drugs that calm the nervous system such as certain antidepressants, antihistamines, or sleep aids, are notorious. They reduce reaction time and impair coordination, so they directly exacerbate balance impairment. If you’ve ever felt woozy after a nighttime antihistamine, you’ve seen how sedative drugs can tip the scales toward a fall.
Another frequent offender is Antihypertensive medication, blood‑pressure‑lowering drugs like ACE inhibitors, beta‑blockers, or diuretics. While they protect the heart, they can also cause orthostatic hypotension— a sudden drop in blood pressure when standing up. That dip can make a person dizzy and lead to a stumble, showing how antihypertensive medication can trigger falls.
To keep these risks in check, healthcare teams rely on Fall risk assessment, a systematic check that looks at medication lists, gait, vision, and home environment. The assessment requires a medication review, because spotting a risky drug is the first step to preventing an accident. In practice, the assessment identifies which drugs to taper, replace, or monitor more closely.
Practical prevention starts with a clear medication review. Doctors compare each prescription’s benefit against its fall‑risk profile, adjusting doses or switching to safer alternatives when possible. Nurses can flag doses taken at night that may cause morning dizziness. Physical therapists often suggest balance exercises that counteract drug‑induced weakness, giving the body a better chance to stay upright.
The articles in this collection illustrate real‑world examples. For instance, Trazodone, a sleep aid, shows how a commonly prescribed antidepressant can double fall risk in older adults. Efavirenz, used for HIV, can cause dizziness that increases the chance of a slip. Even skin‑related drugs like Methoxsalen can affect balance when they interact with sunlight. Seeing these specific cases helps you recognize patterns and act before a fall happens.
Below you’ll find a curated list of posts that dive deeper into each drug class, share patient stories, and offer step‑by‑step guidance on medication management. Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or health professional, the insights here will arm you with the knowledge to spot hazards early and keep mobility safe.
