Beers Criteria: What Seniors Need to Know About Risky Medications

When you’re over 65, some common medications can do more harm than good. That’s where the Beers Criteria, a list of potentially inappropriate medications for older adults, updated regularly by the American Geriatrics Society comes in. It’s not a ban—it’s a warning. These are drugs that increase the risk of falls, memory problems, kidney damage, or even death in older people, even when taken exactly as prescribed. Many of these medications are still prescribed because doctors aren’t always aware of the risks, or because they’re used to writing the same scripts for years. But your body changes as you age, and what was safe at 50 might be dangerous at 75.

The Beers Criteria, a guide used by pharmacists, geriatricians, and caregivers to reduce harmful prescribing in older adults includes drugs like benzodiazepines for sleep, anticholinergics for overactive bladder, and certain painkillers that affect the brain. These aren’t just side effects—they’re serious, sometimes irreversible risks. For example, taking diphenhydramine (Benadryl) for allergies or sleep might seem harmless, but it’s linked to confusion, memory loss, and a higher chance of dementia over time. The same goes for long-term use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen, which can cause stomach bleeds or kidney failure in seniors. And when you’re taking five or more medications—something called polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications, often leading to dangerous interactions in older patients—the chances of a bad reaction jump fast. It’s not about cutting all meds. It’s about asking: Is this still necessary? Is there something safer?

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just theory. It’s real stories from people who switched from risky drugs to safer alternatives, learned how to spot hidden dangers on prescription labels, and figured out how to talk to their doctors without sounding like they’re challenging their expertise. You’ll see how a simple switch from one sleep aid to another can prevent a fall. How checking for drug interactions can stop a hospital visit. How knowing what’s in your medicine can give you back control. The Beers Criteria isn’t a list to fear—it’s a tool to use. And with the right questions, you can make sure your meds are helping, not hurting.