A STUDY led by Monash University's Centre for Medicine Use & Safety has revealed the top 10 signs and symptoms to identify adverse drug events in older people using psychotropic medications, and living in long-term care facilities.
Older people who use medicines such as antipsychotics, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants should watch for falls, daytime drowsiness or sleepiness.
They should watch for abnormal movements, confusion or disorientation, balance problems, dizziness, reduced self-care, restlessness, and dry mouth, among others.
Postural hypotension (i.e. dizziness caused by low blood pressure when standing up) may also present as a sign of an adverse drug event.
The study involved pharmacists, geriatricians, psychiatrists, clinical pharmacologists, general practitioners, nurses, and carers from more than a dozen different countries in APAC, Europe, and North America.
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