Beers Criteria Tool (Patient-specific Reporting)
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This tool can be used to create a patient-specific report of medications from
the Beers criteria based on a patient's current conditions and drug therapy.
A printable report is also available.
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Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults
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Check all groups the patient is receiving:
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1st
generation antihistamines
Antiparkinsonian agents
Antispasmodics
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Antithrombotics -Dipyridamole, Ticlopidine |
Anti-infective
- Nitrofurantoin
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Cardiovascular agents - alpha-1 blockers, Central alpha agonists, amiodarone, digoxin, etc |
Central nervous system drugs -
Antidepressants, Barbiturates,
Benzodiazepines, Nonbenzodiazepine hypnotics, or Ergoloid mesylates |
Endocrine drugs -
Androgens,Estrogens, GH, SS insulin, Long-acting Sulfonylureas |
Gastrointestinal drugs-
Metoclopramide, Mineral oil, given orally, Proton-pump inhibitors |
Pain medications - NSAIDs , Pentazocine, Skeletal muscle relaxants |
Genitourinary - Desmopressin
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Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults Due to
Drug-Disease or Drug-Syndrome Interactions That May Exacerbate the Disease
or Syndrome
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Check all condition(s) that are present in the patient:
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Heart failure
Syncope
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Chronic seizures or epilepsy
Delirium
Dementia or cognitive impairment
History of falls or fractures
Insomnia
Parkinson disease
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History of gastric or duodenal ulcers
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Chronic kidney disease Stages IV or less (creatinine clearance <30 mL/min)
Urinary incontinence (all types) in women
Lower urinary tract symptoms, benign prostatic hyperplasia
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Potentially Inappropriate Medications to Be
Used with Caution in Older Adults
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Check
box if you want this list added to the report
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Renal Insufficiency - Medications That Should
Be Avoided or Have Their Dosage Reduced with Varying Levels of Kidney
Function in Older Adults
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Check box if you want this list added to the report
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Drugs with Strong Anticholinergic Properties
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Check box if you want this list added to the report
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Background Info
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The Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older
Adults, commonly referred to as the Beers List, are criteria used
by healthcare professionals to monitor and improve the safety of
prescribing medications in patients over 65 years of age. The guidelines
focus on eliminating medications that have greater risks than perceived
benefits. In some cases, the medications are completely unnecessary and are
part of a complex prescribing history (prescribing cascade) that requires the
addition of new medications to counteract a growing list of side effects from
the current list of medications.
The criteria includes lists of medications from multiple drug classes that are
either inappropriate, or potentially inappropriate if certain co-existing
condition(s) are present. It also includes a list of medications that
should be avoided in patients with renal insufficiency.
The 2015 AGS Beers Criteria are applicable to all older adults with the
exclusion of those in palliative and hospice care.
All of the guidelines were created following an evidence-based approach using
the Institute of Medicine standards. Following the guidelines should
provide the following benefits:
- Decrease the risk of possible adverse effects.
- Improve health outcomes in older adults including a lower risk
of falls, confusion, cognitive impairment and mortality.
- Eliminate or reduce the number of inappropriate medications especially
those tied to a 'prescribing cascade.'
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References
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American Geriatrics Society 2015 Updated Beers Criteria for Potentially
Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 63:2227-2246,
2015.
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