Falls due to use of medicines on rise

Hyderabad: The instances of older adults and women falling due to the effect of medicines used to treat anxiety and inner ear problems, and those on anti-diabetic drugs and diuretics are increasing.

The incidence of medication-induced falls increased to 31 per cent according to a clinical evaluations carried out in 2016-17.

Approximately three million people are admitted into emergency wards worldwide due to falls and 50 per cent of them are senior citizens and women.

An estimated 29,688 people lost their life due to falls in 2017.

There are many reasons for falls like neurodegenerative disorders, age related Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, issues of sight, neuropathy in diabetic patients, foot-related issues and chronic ear infections.

Dr K. Shiva Raju, senior consultant physician in the department of medicine at KIMS Hospital, explained, “Imbalance is when the intake of the medicine is more than prescribed.

“Often it is found patients take an extra pill when there is an aggravation in the medical condition without giving a thought that it can lead to adverse effect.”

It has been found that benzodiazepines are misused as sleeping pills.

Diuretics like thiazides lead to fall in sodium in the body which lowers the blood pressure leading to falls.

Dr J Anish Anand, consultant internal medicine at Apollo Hospitals, said, “The lack of counselling about side-effects of overdose of medications is one of the reasons for the falls.

“There is a need to spend more time in counselling patients on medications.”