What are the common medicines that can be harmful to older people?

Regularly taking certain medicines can increase older people’s risk of falls, heart attacks, dementia and even death, according to new research from Scottish scientists.

Anticholinergic medications are used to treat various conditions, including allergies, irritable bladder and nausea.

They include the hayfever medicines Piriton, Cetirizine and Loratadine and stomach issue relief such as Buscopan and Imodium.

Around half of all older adults in the UK use anticholinergic medicines, which are used to treat various conditions, including allergies, irritable bladder and nausea.

Generic name	Brand name	Generic name	Brand name
Amantadine	Trilasym	Meclizine hydrochloride	TRAVELeeze, Bonine
Amitriptyline	Elavil	Methocarbamol	Robaxin
Atropine	Minims Atropine Sulfate, Sal- Tropine	Methotrimeprazine	Levomepromazine, Leverol, Nozinan Levoprome
Baclofen	Baclofen	Nefopam	Acupan, Nefogesic
Carbamazepine	Tegretol	Nortriptyline	Allegron, Pamelor
Cetirizine hydrochloride	Cetirizine	Olanzapine	Zentiva, Zyprexa
Cimetidine	Cimetidine, Tagamet	Orphenadrine	Norgesic, Norflex
Chlorpheniramine/ Chlorphenamine	Allerief, Boots Allergy Relief, Hayleve, Numark Antihistamine, Piriton	Oxcarbazepine	Trileptal
Chlorpromazine	Thorazine	Oxybutynin	Ditropan
Clomipramine	Anafranil	Paroxetine	Seroxat, Paxil
Clozapine	Denzapine, Zaponex, Clozaril	Perphenazine	Perphenzaine
Cyproheptadine	Periactin	Pimozide	Orap
Darifenacin	Emselex, Enablex	Prochlorperazine maleate	Prochlororperazine
Dimenhydrinate	Dicycloverine, Dramamine, others	Promethazine	Sominex Phenergan
Diphenhydramine	Nytol, Sleepeaze, Benadryl, others	Propantheline	Pro-Banthine
Doxepin	Sinequan	Propiverine	Detrunorm
Doxylamine	Xonvea, Unisom, others	Pseudoephedrine hydrochloride	Galpseud
Fesoterodine	Teraleve, Toviaz	Quetiapine	Seroque
Flavoxate	Urispas	Solifenacin	Vesicar
Fluphenazine	Fluphenazine	Tizanidine hydrochloride	Tizagelan, Tizanidine,
Hydroxyzine	Atarax, Vistaril	Tolterodine	Detrusitol, Mariosea, Neditol, Tolterma, Tolthen, Blerone, Preblacon Detrol
Hyoscyamine/ Hyoscine/ Hyoscine Butylybromid	Buscopan, Anaspaz, Levsin, Kwells, Travel Calm	Trifluoperazine	Stelazine
Imipramine	Tofranil	Trihexyphenidyl	Artane
Loperamide hydrochloride	Loperamide, Norimode, Imodium	Trimipramine	Surmontil
Loratadine	Loratadine	Trospium	Regurin, Sanc

Previous attempts to reduce the over-prescribing of these medications have focused on targeting the prescriber and have had limited success.

Researchers from the University of Aberdeen are trying a new approach in which the patient is empowered to question the prescriber and be more involved in the decision-making around their care.

Do you take these medicines?

People aged 65 years and older who use one or more anticholinergic medicines have been invited to take part in the research. Anyone who has cared for an eligible adult can also take part.

Dr Carrie Stewart, who is managing the project, said: “We know that too much of these types of medicine can be very harmful to older people but so far, we haven’t been able to find the best way to reduce their use amongst older people.

“We want to try a different approach, targeting the patient as a way of initiating change.

“Empowerment allows patients to have greater control by having a say in the decisions and actions taken in relation to their health.

“What we learn from this study will inform and improve future deprescribing approaches which could lead to significant improvements for older peoples’ health, quality of life and health resource use.”

The study, funded by the Sir Halley Stewart Trust, is already under way and the team are looking for eligible adults to get in touch.

People can call 01224 438152 for more information and to check if they are eligible to participate.