Falls are under-recognized as adverse drug events. Healthcare professionals are reluctant to withdraw fall-risk-increasing medications. The EuGMS Task and Finish group on fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs) proposes in this paper its recommendations on dissemination of knowledge about, management of, and future research on FRIDs. Falls are a major public health concern in the older population, and certain medication classes are a significant risk factor for falls. However, knowledge is lacking among both physicians and older people, including caregivers, concerning the role of medication as a risk factor. In the present statement, the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) Task and Finish group on fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs), in collaboration with the EuGMS Special Interest group on Pharmacology and the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) Geriatric Medicine Section, outlines its position regarding knowledge dissemination on medication-related falls in older people across Europe. The EuGMS Task and Finish group is developing educational materials to facilitate knowledge dissemination for healthcare professionals and older people. In addition, steps in primary prevention through judicious prescribing, deprescribing of FRIDs (withdrawal and dose reduction), and gaps in current research are outlined in this position paper.

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Falls are a major public health concern in the older population, and certain medication classes are a significant risk factor for falls. However, knowledge is lacking among both physicians and older people, including caregivers, concerning the role of medication as a risk factor. In the present statement, the European Geriatric Medicine Society (EuGMS) Task and Finish group on fall-risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs), in collaboration with the EuGMS Special Interest group on Pharmacology and the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS) Geriatric Medicine Section, outlines its position regarding knowledge dissemination on medication-related falls in older people across Europe. The EuGMS Task and Finish group is developing educational materials to facilitate knowledge dissemination for healthcare professionals and older people. In addition, steps in primary prevention through judicious prescribing, deprescribing of FRIDs (withdrawal and dose reduction), and gaps in current research are outlined in this position paper.

@en

Falls are among the most serious problems faced by older persons and are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Falls are multifactorial in origin. Hence, assessment of falls and fall risk is a complex task. An important risk factor for falls is the use of certain drugs, i.e., fall risk-increasing drugs (FRIDs). The exact contribution of FRIDs use to fall risk is not known. To date, information about the effects and effectiveness of FRIDs withdrawal on falls in older persons is scarce. There is evidence that withdrawal of psychotropics reduces rate of falls and that a prescribing modifi cation program for primary care physicians can reduce risk of falling. Withdrawal of all FRIDs, including cardiovascular and psychotropic drugs, appears to be an effective intervention for lowering fall incidence and can lead to improvement of mobility tests and cardiovascular end points. Withdrawal of psychotropics, especially benzodiazepines (BZD), was an important factor in lowering risk of falls requiring medical treatment during the fi rst year after a 12-month multifactorial intervention. BZD withdrawal has also been shown to result in a signifi - cant improvement in the stability of the body, a recovery of cognitive functions, and improvement of handgrip strength and balance. Pharmacological interventions, including withdrawal of FRIDs, pharmacistconducted clinical medication review, and computerized drug alerts, are effective in reducing fall risk and should be incorporated in the care of older persons.@en