de Groot et al. [1] reported that an increased fall risk from the use of psychotropic drugs was associated with impairments in postural control, which these drugs could induce [1]. The effects seem to be more pronounced when the half-life is longer [1]. Hangover effects on postural control (after 8 h of administration) were found mainly for benzodiazepines with an intermittent or long half-life [1]. However, some factors, except for hangover effects and nightly effects, such as the strength of the preparation and muscle-relaxant effects, affect fall risk. Psychotropic drugs with a short half-life may be likely to confuse patients, increasing fall risk. In fact, one meta-analysis showed that the pooled odds ratio for one or more falls in older people was 1.44 (95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.09–1.90) for short-acting benzodiazepines and 1.32 (95 % CI 0.98–1.77) for long-acting benzodiazepines [2]. The American Geriatrics Society 2012 Beers Criteria Update Expert Panel reported that shorter-acting benzodiazepines were not safer than long-acting ones [3]. Are psychotropic drugs with longer half-lives more likely to increase fall risk than psychotropic drugs with shorter half-lives?
References
de Groot MH, van Campen JP, Moek MA, Tulner LR, Beijnen JH, Lamoth CJ. The effects of fall-risk-increasing drugs on postural control: a literature review. Drugs Aging. Epub 5 Sep 2013. doi:10.1007/s40266-013-0113-9.
Leipzig RM, Cumming RG, Tinetti ME. Drugs and falls in older people: a systematic review and meta-analysis: I. Psychotropic drugs. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1999;47(1):30–9.
American Geriatrics Society 2012 Beers Criteria Update Expert Panel: American Geriatrics Society updated Beers Criteria for potentially inappropriate medication use in older adults. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2012;60(4):616–31.
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Dr Toda has no conflicts of interest to declare. No sources of funding were used for the preparation of this letter.
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Toda, K. Comment on: The Effects of Fall-Risk-Increasing Drugs on Postural Control: A Literature Review. Drugs Aging 30, 1039 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-013-0131-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40266-013-0131-7