Loading...
In a recently published Dutch study, stopping specific medications in elderly patients with histories of falling reduced the incidence of falling by 50% (Br J Clin Pharmacol 2007; 63:232). Now, the researchers report tilt-table testing outcomes after drug withdrawal in this cohort.
The study included 135 older adults (mean age, 79) who had had unprovoked falls (with or without losing consciousness) during the previous year and 76 controls who had not fallen. All patients underwent tilt testing, including carotid sinus massage unless contraindicated. Next, physicians attempted to stop drugs that predispose patients to falls (mostly antihypertensive and sedating psychotropic drugs); drugs were stopped or doses reduced in about half the cases. …