Table 2.

Drug classes that most frequently require re-evaluation in elderly patients, with related indications and main adverse drug reactions to monitor

Pharmacological class	Indication	Adverse drug reactions/events
Benzodiazepines	Insomnia, anxiety	Daytime drowsiness, falls, confusion, dependence, paradoxical effect (increased anxiety, insomnia, irritability, worsening of seizures for epileptics), car accidents, cognitive decline
Antiarrhythmics	Cardiac arrhythmias	Bradycardia, arrhythmias, electrolyte imbalances
Anticoagulants	Thrombotic or ischemic conditions	Haemorrhages, thrombosis
Antipsychotics	Psychiatric and behavioural symptoms	Weight gain, sedation, memory loss, and involuntary movements
Antidepressants	Depression, anxiety	Drowsiness, gastrointestinal disorders, and weight gain, prolonged QTc, electrolyte disorders
Antihypertensives, including diuretics	High blood pressure	Electrolyte imbalances, dehydration, acute renal failure, hypotension, dizziness, falls, pre-syncope, syncope
Antidiabetics	Diabetes	Hypoglycemia, weight gain/loss, gastrointestinal disorders, peripheral edema, urinary tract infections
Bisphosphonates, vitamin D, and calcium	Fracture prevention	Gastrointestinal disorders, muscle pain, headache, and atypical fractures
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs	Inflammatory conditions, pain	Gastrointestinal ulcers, gastrointestinal bleeding, and acute renal failure
Proton pump inhibitors	Gastric ulcer, gastroesophageal reflux	Diarrhea, headache, increased risk of gastrointestinal infections, renal failure, bone fractures, vitamin B12 and other nutrient deficiencies, pulmonary infections
Opioid analgesics	Chronic pain	Drowsiness, nausea, constipation, respiratory depression from improper and/or unmonitored prescription, dependence