Medicines in Older Age
How medicines behave differently with age, and why the list tends to grow.
Last revised
Key takeaways
- Anticholinergic burden: associated with confusion and falls
- Contribute to falls: sedatives, some blood pressure medicines, anticholinergics
- Most useful single change: Ask for an annual structured medication review.
- Commonest mistake: Adding over-the-counter medicines without checking.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to get help" below apply to you.
Why it matters
Kidney and liver function decline with age, so the same dose does more, and each added medicine raises interaction and falls risk.
The numbers, in one place
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Anticholinergic burden | associated with confusion and falls |
| Contribute to falls | sedatives, some blood pressure medicines, anticholinergics |
| Review | structured medication review at least annually |
| Deprescribing | a planned reduction, not a failure of care |
What helps
- Ask for an annual structured medication review
- Ask whether each medicine is still needed at the current dose
- Report dizziness on standing, which is often medication-related
What to avoid
- Adding over-the-counter medicines without checking
- Stopping anything abruptly
- Assuming a long-standing prescription is still appropriate
Where to go next
- Medicines in Older Age for Beginners: Where to Start
- Medicines in Older Age: Common Questions Answered
- Reporting Side Effects: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise
- The Evidence on Taking Medicines Correctly, Without the Hype
When to get help
Seek prompt assessment for new confusion, dizziness on standing, unexplained falls or increasing drowsiness — these are commonly medication-related and reversible. Seek urgent help for black stools, vomiting blood, or unusual bruising.
Where this comes from
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarised or generalised beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 999.