THE BEERS LIST: MEDICATIONS SENIORS SHOULD USE WITH CAUTION
American Geriatrics Society cautions seniors about certain drugs
Older adults may be at increased risk for problems related to drug side effects or interactions.
That’s because older bodies process medications differently. And also because so many seniors take multiple drugs for multiple health conditions.
To reduce risk, the American Geriatrics Society (AGS) maintains a list of medications that are more likely to cause problems for seniors.
It’s called the AGS Beers Criteria (informally, the Beers list) and is for doctors to use when they’re prescribing drugs to patients who are 65 or older.
For caregivers, being more informed about these medications means you’ll be able to ask better questions and be more aware of potential problems.
We explain what the Beers list is, why a doctor would need it, why a doctor might prescribe a drug on the list, and how the list can help with caregiving.
What is the Beers list?
In 1991, Dr. Mark Beers published a paper with a list of medications that were considered to be not appropriate for people living in long-term care facilities – mostly older adults.
It’s now informally referred to as the Beers list and is used to help doctors improve care for older patients.
In 2019, it’s been updated and reviewed by the AGS and a panel of experts in geriatric care and pharmacotherapy.
The list puts medications into five categories:
Medications and types of medications that are “potentially inappropriate” for older people
Medications that are potentially inappropriate for older adults with certain common health problems
Types of medications that should be used with caution in older adults
Medication combinations that may result in harmful ”drug-drug” interactions
Medications that should be avoided or have their dose changed in people with poor kidney function
Why would a doctor need the Beers list?
Geriatricians (geriatric doctors) have the most experience treating older patients and are more familiar with drugs commonly used by seniors.
They’re also likely to be familiar with the Beers List and have a better idea of what medications do and don’t work well for seniors and what combinations could be problematic.
But doctors who don’t specialize in treating older adults usually see more younger patients than old.
So, they may have never prescribed certain medications for conditions common in older adults. They’re also less likely to have experience with side effects or interactions that are more common in seniors.
This lack of experience with medication effects on older bodies can be a problem if a drug side effect or interaction causes a problem for your older adult. They might not realize that a medication could be the problem, not the solution.