UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Pharmacology & Therapeutics

Title: 2012 Beers Criteria update from the American Geriatrics Society

Keywords: older adult, Beers Criteria, geriatric (PubMed Search)

Posted: 4/30/2012 by Bryan Hayes, PharmD (Emailed: 5/5/2012) (Updated: 6/15/2012)
Click here to contact Bryan Hayes, PharmD

The American Geriatrics Society updated Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults is now available. 

The update differs in several ways from the 2003 edition. Medications that are no longer available have been removed, and drugs introduced since 2003 have been added. Research on drugs included in earlier versions has been updated and new information is provided about appropriate prescribing of medications for an expanded list of common geriatric conditions. 

Here is an abbreviated list of medications/classes on the list that we may use in the ED. Use caution.

  • Anticholinergics
  • Nitrofurantoin
  • Clonidine
  • Antidysrhythmics
  • Digoxin
  • Antipsychotics
  • Benzodiazepines
  • Insulin
  • Metoclopromide
  • NSAIDs

References

The American Geriatrics Society 2012 Beers Criteria Update Expert Panel. American Geriatrics Society Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 2012;60(4):616-31.

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