Beers Criteria: What It Is and Why It Matters for Elderly Medication Safety

When you’re over 65, your body processes drugs differently—and some medications that are fine for younger people can be dangerous for you. That’s where the Beers Criteria, a widely used list of potentially inappropriate medications for older adults. It’s updated every few years by experts at the American Geriatrics Society to reflect real-world risks and safer alternatives. This isn’t just a checklist—it’s a safety net designed to prevent falls, confusion, kidney damage, and even death in older patients taking multiple drugs.

The Beers Criteria, a widely used list of potentially inappropriate medications for older adults focuses on drugs that are risky because of age-related changes in liver, kidney, and brain function. It includes common over-the-counter pills like diphenhydramine (Benadryl), sleep aids like zolpidem, and even some pain relievers like long-term NSAIDs. These aren’t banned—they’re flagged because their side effects often outweigh the benefits in seniors. For example, anticholinergic drugs can cause memory loss and confusion, which many mistake for dementia. The polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications by a single patient, often leading to harmful interactions problem is real: over 40% of older adults take five or more drugs daily. The Beers Criteria helps cut through the noise by identifying which ones to question first.

It’s not just about avoiding bad drugs—it’s about replacing them with safer ones. The list also includes geriatric pharmacology, the study of how medications affect older adults differently than younger people recommendations, like using acetaminophen instead of ibuprofen for pain, or choosing non-drug options like physical therapy over muscle relaxants. You’ll find that many of the posts here tie into this—like the one on elderly patients switching to generics, or how magnesium interacts with osteoporosis meds. These aren’t random topics. They’re all pieces of the same puzzle: keeping older adults safe while managing chronic conditions.

If you’re a caregiver, a senior, or a healthcare provider, the Beers Criteria is your starting point for smarter medication decisions. It doesn’t replace clinical judgment—it supports it. Below, you’ll find real-world examples of how these risks show up in daily practice: from drug-induced glaucoma to dangerous supplement interactions. These aren’t theoretical warnings. They’re stories of people who got hurt because no one checked the list. The goal here isn’t to scare you—it’s to help you ask the right questions before the next prescription is written.