The American Geriatric Society has identified drugs that may be inappropriate for persons aged 65 years and older.
For these drugs, the risk of harm when used in older adults potentially outweighs their benefits.
This is not a complete list, though. There may be other medications that can be harmful to you. Talk to your doctor.
| Drug Name | Recommendation |
|---|
| Indomethacin (Indocin, Indocin SR) | Avoid |
| Pentazocine (Talwin) | Avoid |
| Trimethobenzamide
(Tigan) | Avoid |
| Methocarbamol (Robaxin) | Avoid |
| Carisoprodol (Soma) | Avoid |
| Chlorzoxazone (Paraflex) | Avoid |
| Metaxalone (Skelaxin) | Avoid |
| Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) | Avoid |
| Oxybutynin (Ditropan) | Avoid unless there are no other alternatives |
| Brompheniramine | Avoid |
| Amitriptyline (Elavil) | Avoid |
| Chlordiazepoxide-amitriptyline (Limbitrol) | Avoid |
| Perphenazine-amitriptyline (Triavil) | Avoid |
| Doxepin (Sinequan) | Avoid |
| Meprobarnate (Miltown, Equanil) | Avoid |
| Lorazepam (>3 mg) (Ativan) | Avoid for treatment of insomnia, agitation, or delirium |
| Oxazepam (>60 mg) (Serax) | Avoid for treatment of insomnia, agitation, or delirium |
| Alprazolam (> 2 mg) (Xanax) | Avoid for treatment of insomnia, agitation, or delirium |
| Temazepam (>15 mg) (Restoril) | Avoid for treatment of insomnia, agitation, or delirium |
| Triazolam (>0.25 mg) (Halcion) | Avoid for treatment of insomnia, agitation, or delirium |
| Chlordiazepoxide (Librium) | Avoid for treatment of insomnia, agitation, or delirium |
| Chlordiazepoxide-arnitriptyline (Limbitrol) | Avoid for treatment of insomnia, agitation, or delirium |
| Clidinium-chlordiazepoxide (Librax) | Avoid for treatment of insomnia, agitation, or delirium |
| Diazepam (Valium) | Avoid for treatment of insomnia, agitation, or delirium |
| Quazepam (Doral) | Avoid for treatment of insomnia, agitation, or delirium |
| Doxylamine | Avoid |
| Chlorazepate (Tranxene) | Avoid for treatment of insomnia, agitation, or delirium |
| Disopyramide (Norpace, Norpace CR) | Avoid |
| Digoxin ( >0.125 mg/d, except if treating atrial arrhythmia) (Lanoxin) | Avoid |
| Short-acting dipyridamole (Persantine) | Avoid |
| Methyldopa (Aldomet) | Avoid |
| Scopolamine | Avoid |
| Reserpine (>0.25 mg) | Avoid |
| Chlorpropamide (Diabinese) | Avoid |
| Dicyclomine (Bentyl) | Avoid |
| Hyoscyamine (Levsin, Levsinex) | Avoid except in short time palliative care |
| Propantheline (Pro-Banthine) | Avoid unless no other alternatives |
| Belladonna alkaloids (Donnatal and others) | Avoid except in short time palliative care |
| Clidinium-chlordiazepoxide (Librax) | Avoid except in short time palliative care |
| Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton) | Avoid unless no other alternatives |
| Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) | Avoid unless no other alternatives |
| Hydroxyzine (Vistaril, Atarax) | Avoid unless no other alternatives |
| Cyproheptadine (Periactin) | Avoid unless no other alternatives |
| Promethazine (Phenergan) | Avoid unless no other alternatives |
| Prazosin | Avoid |
| Dexchlorpheniramine (Polaramine) | Avoid |
| Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) | Avoid |
| Ergot mesyloids (Hydergine) | Avoid |
| Terazosin | Avoid |
| Ibutilide | Avoid as first-line treatment of atrial fibrillation |
| All barbituates (except phenobarbital) except to control seizures | Avoid |
| Meperidine (Demerol) | Avoid |
| Ticlopidine (Ticlid) | Avoid |
| Ketorolac (Toradol) | Avoid |
| Amphetamines and anorexic agents | Avoid |
| Naproxen (long-term use of full dosage) (Naprosyn, Avaprox, Aleve) | Avoid chronic use unless alternatives are not effective |
| Oxaprozin (long-term use of full dosage) (Daypro) | Avoid chronic use unless alternatives are not effective |
| Piroxicam (long-term use of full dosage) (Feldene) | Avoid chronic use unless alternatives are not effective |
| Sotalol | Avoid as first-line treatment of atrial fibrillation |
| Imipramine | Avoid |
| Trimipramine | Avoid |
| Butalbital | Avoid |
| Amiodarone (Cordarone) | Avoid as first-line treatment of atrial fibrillation |
| Orphenadrine (Norflex) | Avoid |
| Meprobamate | Avoid |
| Zolpidem | Avoid |
| Isoxsuprine | Avoid |
| Isoxsurpine (Vasodilan) | Avoid |
| Nitrofurantoin (Macrodantin) | Avoid long-term use |
| Doxazosin (Cardura) | Avoid use as an antihypertensive |
| Methyltestosterone (Android, Virilon, Testrad) | Avoid unless indicated for severe hypogonadism |
| Thioridazine (Mellaril) | Avoid |
| Mesoridazine (Serentil) | Avoid |
| Short-acting nifedipine (Procardia, Adalat) | Avoid |
| Clonidine (Catapres) | Avoid |
| Mineral oil | Avoid |
| Cimetidine (Tagamet) | Avoid |
| Testosterone | Avoid unless indicated for severe hypogonadism |
| Desiccated thyroid | Avoid |
| Amphetamines (excluding methylphenidate hydrochloride and anorexics) | Avoid |
| Estrogens with or without progestins (oral) | Avoid |
