Beers Criteria Medication Checker
Check Your Medications
The Beers Criteria identifies medications that may be inappropriate for older adults due to increased risks of side effects. Enter a medication name to see if it's on the list.
Enter a medication name above to check if it's on the Beers Criteria list for older adults.
Important Information
The Beers Criteria is a list of medications that should be avoided or used with caution in older adults (65+ years). 42% of older adults are still taking at least one medication on this list according to a 2019 JAMA study.
When you’re 70, a pill that once helped you sleep might leave you dizzy, confused, or even hospitalized. It’s not that the medicine changed. It’s that your body did. As we age, the way our bodies handle medications shifts in ways most people don’t expect-until they’re facing a fall, a hospital stay, or a sudden memory lapse. This isn’t rare. Nearly one in three older adults ends up in the hospital because of a medication side effect. And many of those cases could have been avoided.
Why Older Bodies React Differently to Medications
Your body doesn’t just slow down with age-it reorganizes. Between ages 25 and 80, your total body water drops by about 15%, while body fat increases by up to 15 percentage points. That changes everything. Water-soluble drugs like lithium or digoxin become more concentrated because there’s less fluid to dilute them. Fat-soluble drugs like diazepam or antidepressants linger longer because they get stored in fatty tissue and release slowly over time. Your kidneys, which filter out most medications, lose up to half their function between ages 30 and 80. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), the measure of kidney efficiency, drops by nearly 1 mL per minute every year after 40. That means drugs cleared by the kidneys-like antibiotics, painkillers, and heart meds-build up in your system faster than they should. Even if your blood tests look normal, your kidneys may not be handling meds the way they used to. Your liver, which breaks down drugs like propranolol or warfarin, gets less blood flow. By age 65, liver blood flow can be 20-40% lower than in your 20s. That means drugs that need liver processing stay active longer. And your liver makes less albumin, the protein that binds to drugs like warfarin. Less binding means more free drug circulating in your bloodstream-potentially doubling the effect at the same dose.How Your Brain and Heart Respond Differently
It’s not just about how your body processes drugs-it’s how your organs respond to them. Older brains are more sensitive to sedatives. A dose of diazepam that barely makes a 30-year-old sleepy can cause severe confusion, memory loss, or even delirium in someone over 75. A 2023 University of Florida study found that anticholinergic drugs like diphenhydramine (common in allergy and sleep aids) caused delirium 4.2 times more often in people over 75 than in younger adults. Your heart, too, becomes less responsive. Beta-blockers like propranolol need 50% higher doses in younger people to slow the heart. In older adults, the same dose might barely move the needle. But here’s the catch: even though your heart doesn’t respond as strongly, your brain and nerves do. That’s why low-dose beta-blockers can still cause fatigue, dizziness, or fainting in older patients. Blood pressure medications are another big issue. Orthostatic hypotension-when your blood pressure drops suddenly when standing-is twice as common in people over 80 compared to those in their 50s. A 2022 JAMA study showed 28% of adults over 80 experienced dizziness or falls from blood pressure drugs, versus just 9% in younger groups. Many doctors still prescribe the same doses they’ve used for decades. But for an 82-year-old, that dose might be too high.The Real Danger: Too Many Pills at Once
The average older adult takes five or more prescription medications every month. Nearly one in five takes ten or more. This is called polypharmacy-and it’s not just about quantity. It’s about interaction. A drug that’s safe alone can become dangerous when mixed with others. Take this real example: An 80-year-old takes warfarin (blood thinner), amiodarone (heart rhythm drug), and ibuprofen (pain reliever). Each one affects the liver and kidneys differently. Together, they can spike bleeding risk by 300%. The American Geriatrics Society’s Beers Criteria lists 56 medications that should be avoided-or used with extreme caution-in older adults. Among the top offenders: benzodiazepines (like Xanax or Ambien), anticholinergics (like Benadryl), and NSAIDs (like Advil). The Beers Criteria isn’t just a list. It’s a warning system. It tells doctors: “Don’t start this. If they’re already on it, reconsider.” And yet, a 2019 JAMA study found that 42% of older adults were still taking at least one medication on that list. Many don’t even know they’re on it.
What Happens When You Stop Taking a Pill
It’s not just about starting drugs-it’s about stopping them. Many older adults are prescribed medications years ago for conditions that have since changed or disappeared. A statin for borderline cholesterol. A sleeping pill for temporary insomnia. An antidepressant after a loved one passed away. But the pills keep coming. That’s where deprescribing comes in. It’s not about cutting pills cold turkey. It’s about reviewing every medication with a doctor and asking: “Is this still helping? Is the risk worth it?” A 2022 study showed that when nurses and pharmacists led medication reviews in nursing homes, 30-50% of medications were safely stopped-and patients felt better. Less confusion. Fewer falls. Better sleep. One Reddit user, ‘ElderlyPatient92,’ shared how amitriptyline-a common nerve pain drug-caused urinary retention so severe he needed a catheter within three days. He was 78. His doctor had prescribed it based on a 50-year-old’s dosage. The drug wasn’t bad. The dose was too high for his body.What You Can Do Right Now
You don’t need to be an expert to protect yourself or a loved one. Here’s what works:- Do a Brown Bag Review. Every six months, bring every pill, vitamin, and supplement you take to your doctor or pharmacist. Include the ones you forgot about. Most people have 3-4 medications they didn’t even realize they were still taking.
- Ask about the Beers Criteria. Ask your doctor: “Is this medicine on the list of drugs I should avoid at my age?” If they don’t know, ask for a referral to a geriatric pharmacist.
- Start low, go slow. If you’re prescribed a new drug, ask: “Can I start at half the usual dose?” Many older adults respond better to smaller doses, especially for sleep aids, painkillers, and antidepressants.
- Track side effects. Keep a simple log: “Day 3: dizzy after taking pill. Day 5: couldn’t remember where I put my keys.” Bring this to your next visit.
- Know your kidney numbers. Ask for your eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration rate). If it’s below 60, your kidney function is reduced-and many drugs need lower doses.
The Bigger Picture: Why This Matters
The U.S. spends $30 billion a year treating preventable drug reactions in older adults. That’s 15% of all medication costs for this group. And with 1 in 5 Americans expected to be over 65 by 2040, this isn’t just a personal issue-it’s a system-wide crisis. Pharmaceutical companies are finally starting to respond. Between 2020 and 2023, the FDA approved 37 new medications designed specifically for older adults. The National Institutes of Health is funding $127 million in research on how aging changes drug responses. And hospitals are being penalized if too many older patients are readmitted due to medication errors. But the real change happens in the exam room. When a doctor takes five extra minutes to ask, “Are you still taking that?” or “Have you noticed any new dizziness?”-it saves lives.
What’s Next for Geriatric Medication Safety
The future of safe prescribing is personal. Pharmacogenomics-testing your genes to see how you metabolize drugs-is becoming more accessible. A 2023 study showed that testing for CYP2D6 and CYP2C19 genes reduced bad reactions in older adults taking antidepressants by 35%. Artificial intelligence tools like MedAware are now used in hospitals to flag dangerous drug combinations before they’re prescribed. And by 2026, Medicare may require a full medication review for every beneficiary over 65. The goal isn’t to stop all meds. It’s to make sure every pill you take still has a reason to be there. If you’re older and taking multiple medications, your body isn’t broken-it’s just different. And the right dose for you isn’t the same as it was 20 years ago. Or even five.Frequently Asked Questions
Why do older adults have more side effects from medications?
Older adults experience more side effects because of natural changes in body composition, kidney and liver function, and brain sensitivity. Less body water and more fat alter how drugs are absorbed and stored. Slower kidney and liver clearance means drugs stay in the system longer. The brain also becomes more sensitive to sedatives and anticholinergics, leading to confusion, dizziness, or falls even at low doses.
What are the most dangerous medications for older adults?
According to the 2023 Beers Criteria, the most dangerous drugs for older adults include benzodiazepines (like diazepam and zolpidem), anticholinergics (like diphenhydramine and oxybutynin), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs like ibuprofen), and certain antipsychotics. These increase risks of falls, delirium, kidney damage, and internal bleeding. Some, like meperidine and long-acting barbiturates, should be avoided entirely.
Can I stop taking my meds if I feel fine?
Never stop a medication without talking to your doctor-even if you feel fine. Some drugs, like blood thinners or heart medications, can cause serious rebound effects if stopped suddenly. But many older adults are on medications that are no longer needed. A medication review with your doctor or pharmacist can help identify which ones are safe to stop, reduce, or replace.
How often should older adults have their medications reviewed?
The American Geriatrics Society recommends a full medication review every 3 to 6 months for older adults taking five or more medications. Reviews should also happen after any hospital stay, emergency visit, or change in health status. Many pharmacies now offer free "Brown Bag Reviews" where you bring all your pills in for a check-up.
Is it true that clinical trials don’t include older people?
Yes. As of 2023, 90% of drug trials still exclude people over 75, even though that’s the group most likely to use the medication. This means many dosing guidelines are based on data from younger, healthier people. That’s why older adults often get the same doses as 30-year-olds-even when their bodies process drugs very differently.
Next Steps for Safer Medication Use
If you’re over 65 and on multiple medications:- Make a list of every pill, supplement, and OTC drug you take.
- Ask your doctor for your eGFR number.
- Request a Beers Criteria check for each medication.
- Ask: "Is this still necessary? Can we try a lower dose?"
- Bring your list to every appointment-don’t assume your doctor remembers.
Sarah Clifford
December 9, 2025 AT 14:29This is wild-I took Benadryl for sleep last week and woke up thinking my cat was the president. Not joking. My dog was side-eyeing me like I’d lost it. Guess I’m on the Beers list now.
Queenie Chan
December 10, 2025 AT 22:27I love how this breaks it down like a science poem. My grandma’s on six meds, and I swear her brain’s just a cocktail of forgotten prescriptions and faded dreams. She forgot my name once but remembered the exact date she got her first typewriter. That’s the brain for you-selective, stubborn, beautiful.
Jack Appleby
December 12, 2025 AT 18:36Let’s be precise: the decline in glomerular filtration rate is not linear-it’s exponential after 55, and most clinicians still use Cockcroft-Gault as if it’s gospel. The MDRD equation is more accurate for elderly populations, yet it’s rarely used in primary care. Also, albumin binding isn’t just about concentration-it’s about free fraction dynamics, which are rarely modeled in clinical dosing algorithms. This post is good, but it’s still oversimplified.
Stephanie Maillet
December 13, 2025 AT 23:20My mother was on amitriptyline for ten years-never told her it was off-label for nerve pain at her age. She started walking like a robot, forgot how to use the microwave, and once tried to put her dentures in the toaster. We stopped it cold turkey (bad idea, I know), and within two weeks, she was laughing again. Not cured. Just… present. Why do we keep prescribing like we’re treating 30-year-olds with the same brain?
Michelle Edwards
December 14, 2025 AT 15:01This is so important. I’ve been pushing my dad to do a brown bag review for months. He said, ‘I’ve been taking this for 15 years, why change now?’ But then he had that fall last month. Now he’s asking me to go with him. Small wins, right? We’re not trying to take away his meds-we’re trying to give him back his balance.
Doris Lee
December 15, 2025 AT 14:48My aunt is 81 and takes seven pills. She doesn’t know what half of them are for. I made her a color-coded chart with pictures. She hugs me every time she sees it. Sometimes the best medicine is just someone who cares enough to write it down.
Nikki Smellie
December 16, 2025 AT 13:24Did you know the FDA approves drugs based on trials with people under 65? And then they sell them to us like it’s fine? Big Pharma knows older bodies break down faster-they just don’t care. They’re making billions off our confusion. This isn’t medicine. It’s a profit loop. And they’re watching us die quietly so their stock doesn’t dip.
Neelam Kumari
December 17, 2025 AT 00:30Wow. So you’re saying the problem is that old people are too old? How revolutionary. Maybe if they didn’t take so many pills, they wouldn’t need so many pills. My cousin’s 70 and still runs marathons. Maybe she’s just weak? Or maybe she’s just… lazy?
David Palmer
December 17, 2025 AT 10:04Okay but what if you just… stop taking pills? Like, full on no meds. I heard this guy in Florida just quit everything and now he’s hiking in the Rockies. No doctor. No blood tests. Just vibes. Maybe the real answer is not more science… but more freedom?
Michaux Hyatt
December 18, 2025 AT 11:37One thing people forget: deprescribing isn’t just about safety-it’s about dignity. When you stop a drug that makes you foggy, you don’t just feel better-you remember what your granddaughter’s laugh sounds like. That’s not a side effect. That’s a return to life. And it’s worth fighting for.
Regan Mears
December 19, 2025 AT 12:52My dad’s eGFR is 42. His doctor says, ‘It’s fine, just lower the dose.’ Fine? It’s below 60-that’s stage 3 kidney disease. And yet he’s still on lisinopril, ibuprofen, and a sleep aid. No one’s asking if this is sustainable. They’re just checking boxes. I’ve started printing out the Beers Criteria and handing it to his doctors. They hate it. Good.
Kaitlynn nail
December 19, 2025 AT 16:42It’s not the pills. It’s the narrative. We’ve been sold the myth that aging means ‘more medicine.’ But what if the real cure is less intervention? Less fear? Less ‘doctor knows best’? Maybe the most powerful drug is silence-the quiet decision to stop adding to the chaos.