What drugs cause the most common medication problems in the elderly?
– ‘DAPINCH’ classification
- D – Diuretics
- A – Antibiotics
- P – Potassium and other electrolytes
- I – Insulin (and all hypoglycaemic drugs)
- N – Narcotics (opioids) and other sedatives
- C – Chemotherapeutic agents
- H – Heparin and other anticoagulants (DOACs etc).
Therefore, it is important to review these medications regularly to assess the risk versus benefit.
Tools exist to support identification of inappropriate medicines use in specific vulnerable population groups. Most notably, the STOPP/START tool identifies medicines inappropriate for prescribing in older and frail patients.
Other resources
Prescribing in the elderly (BNF)
NHS Wales’ advice on reducing polypharmacy (deprescribing) in the frail elderly.
