Antidepressant use and recurrent falls in the elderly

Psychotropic drugs, including antidepressants, are commonly prescribed in elderly patients, and data suggest their use is associated with falls and resultant hip fracture.1,2 Questions remain, however, as to whether the falls are directly related to the use of medication or to the underlying depressive condition, and the association between recurrent falls and antidepressant use has seldom been investigated. The following longitudinal study evaluated the risk of recurrent falls in elderly users of various antidepressants, with the study including individuals with a history of falls and/or fracture.

Source: The Brown University Psychopharmacology Update - July 19, 2016 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Y. W. Francis Lam Tags: Drug ‐Drug Interactions Source Type: research