Medicines and fall risk in older adults: what to ask a pharmacist
Some commonly used medicines can cause drowsiness, dizziness or slower reactions, increasing the possibility of a fall. Family members can accompany an older person to a pharmacy to ask a pharmacist about medicines and balance, and ask the pharmacist to communicate with the doctor to help coordinate medication use.
Machine translation of our Chinese article, without human translation review. Suggestions concerning China remain specific to China.
Automatically reviewed, without human verification. Programmatic checks are not professional review. Seek professional advice where appropriate. Automatically reviewed on 10/4/2026, 7:14:25 AM
Chinese fact summaries and suggestions for China (not a full translation)
Original: Pharmacy Care (STEADI-Rx) | STEADI - Older Adult Fall Prevention | CDC · Original language: en
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Facts from the sources
According to US CDC materials, many adults aged 65 and over take medicines for sleep, anxiety, blood pressure or chronic pain. Side effects of these medicines may cause drowsiness, loss of balance, vision changes or slower reactions, increasing fall risk. People taking such medicines can consult their doctor or pharmacist about this. View source
The US CDC page describes serious consequences of falls among older adults in the United States: approximately 3 million emergency department visits, 1 million hospitalizations and 41,000 deaths each year. These are population-level totals and do not represent any individual's fall risk. View source
The US CDC's STEADI-Rx program provides guidance for pharmacists to screen pharmacy patients, assess medicines and intervene to reduce fall risk. It aims to strengthen collaboration between healthcare providers and pharmacists. View source
The US CDC considers pharmacists, as medication experts, able to use STEADI-Rx to help reduce fall risk among older adults. Older adults can ask a community pharmacist whether their medicines affect balance or reactions. View source
The US CDC's guidance for pharmacists includes screening patients for fall risk in the pharmacy. Older adults collecting medicines can ask the pharmacist whether such screening is available. View source
The US CDC's STEADI-Rx process includes sharing information with patients and healthcare providers. Older adults can ask pharmacists to tell their doctors about medication-related information to help coordinate medication use and fall risk management. View source
For older people and families
If an older person takes medicines for blood pressure, sleep, anxiety or pain, pay attention to whether they feel drowsy or unsteady after taking them.
When collecting medicines, you can accompany the older person and ask the pharmacist whether these medicines could affect balance or reactions.
Tell the pharmacist about any recent additions or changes to the older person's medicines, and ask the pharmacist to inform the doctor as well.
If the older person feels dizzy or notices slower reactions, consult a doctor or pharmacist before stopping medicines on their own.
See what care and community teams can do
Community pharmacies in China can draw on the STEADI-Rx approach to ask older customers about medication-related fall risks.
Fall risk screening in pharmacies requires pharmacist training and referral and communication arrangements with nearby healthcare providers.
Use plain language when talking with older adults, and ask about noticeable symptoms such as drowsiness or changes in balance or vision.
Before sharing medication information with the prescribing doctor, obtain the older person's informed consent and follow privacy requirements.
Organizations can arrange regular discussions between pharmacists and care staff about fall prevention plans for older adults taking multiple medicines.
What needs local assessment
The facts in this article come from US CDC materials. Pharmacy services may differ in other countries or regions; follow local medical practice. Medicines affect people differently, and the risks described do not mean that any particular person will experience them. A doctor or pharmacist must assess specific medication changes; do not make decisions based solely on this article. If an older person experiences significant discomfort, seek medical attention or professional advice promptly. Source: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The original materials are freely available on the CDC website. This site and its suggestions for China do not imply endorsement by the CDC, HHS or the US government; their images and logos have not been reproduced.
Sources
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Was this article helpful?
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