Polypharmacy Guidance: appropriate prescribing, making medicines safe, effective and sustainable 2025 - 2028
3. Falls
| Our Recommendations | Strength of recommendation |
|---|---|
| Prescribers and medicines users should discuss the benefits and harms of taking medication associated with increased falls as part of a person-centred medication review.
(Benzodiazepines, opioids, sedatives, diabetes medication, psychotropics, and antihypertensives are associated with risk of falls). |
Conditional recommendation |
| General practice-based MDT polypharmacy interventions may contribute to falls prevention. | Conditional recommendation |
| Our recommendations | Strength of recommendation |
|---|---|
| 1. A medication review should be considered for those who experience or are at risk of falls. This may include modification/ reduction/ withdrawal, as part of a multifactorial prevention strategy. People on psychotropic medications should have their medication discontinued if possible to reduce risk of falling. | Strong recommendation |
| 2. Medication reviews to reduce risk of falls should be conducted by a health-care provider with the appropriate knowledge and skills, such as a pharmacist, prescriber, or specialist. | Strong recommendation |
| 3. Medication reviews should be part of multifactorial risk assessment and individual care plan. | Conditional recommendation |
| 4. A medication review should be undertaken during transitions of care (admission, transfer, discharge), after a fall, when there is a significant change in condition; and when new medications are prescribed, with the aim to monitor medications with side effects known to contribute to risk of falls. | Conditional recommendation |
| Our recommendations | Strength of recommendation |
|---|---|
| 1. A medicine review undertaken by a pharmacist can have a significant reduction on adverse drug events. | Strong recommendation |
| 2. A medicine review undertaken by a pharmacist may help reduce the risk of falls. | Conditional recommendation |