Beers Criteria: What Every Older Adult and Caregiver Needs to Know

When you’re over 65, your body handles medicine differently. What worked at 40 might now cause dizziness, confusion, or even falls. That’s where the Beers Criteria, a list of medications that may be unsafe for older adults due to high risk of side effects. Also known as Beers List, it’s updated every few years by experts to reflect the latest safety data. This isn’t just a doctor’s reference—it’s a tool you can use to protect yourself or a loved one from harmful drugs.

The Beers Criteria, a list of medications that may be unsafe for older adults due to high risk of side effects. Also known as Beers List, it’s updated every few years by experts to reflect the latest safety data. isn’t about banning drugs. It’s about balance. Some of these medications still have a place—if the benefits clearly outweigh the risks. But too often, they’re prescribed by default. Anticholinergics like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can blur vision and fog the mind. Benzodiazepines like diazepam increase fall risk by 50%. Long-term use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen can wreck your kidneys or trigger stomach bleeds. These aren’t rare mistakes. They’re common—and preventable.

The polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications at once, especially in older adults problem makes this worse. When someone takes five, six, or more pills a day, interactions pile up. One drug might make another stronger. Another might cancel out the good effects. That’s why the geriatric pharmacology, the study of how medications affect older adults differently than younger people matters. It’s not just about what’s in the pill—it’s about how the body changes with age. Liver and kidney function slow down. Muscle mass drops. Brain sensitivity rises. A dose that’s fine for a 30-year-old could be toxic for a 75-year-old.

You don’t need to be a doctor to spot red flags. If your parent suddenly feels foggy after starting a new sleep aid, or gets dizzy when standing after a blood pressure pill was added, that’s a signal. The inappropriate medications, drugs listed in the Beers Criteria that pose higher risks than benefits for older adults aren’t always obvious. Some are sold over the counter. Others are prescribed for symptoms that could be managed differently—like using physical therapy instead of opioids for chronic pain.

What you’ll find in these posts isn’t theory. It’s real-world advice from people who’ve been there. You’ll see how aspirin affects gallbladder health, why certain drugs cause dizziness when standing, and how to spot dangerous interactions with medications like chlorambucil or dexamethasone. These aren’t random articles. They’re pieces of the same puzzle—how to keep older adults safe while still treating their conditions effectively.