Potentially Inappropriate Medications (PIMs) Fall Project

Two-thirds of “potentially inappropriate medications” in Texas in 2007 (narcotics, antihistamines and skeletal muscle relaxants), cause drowsiness, sedation and confusion, which can lead to potential falls and fractures in the elderly with direct medical costs of $6 - 8 billion dollars per year in the U.S.1

TMF has developed a project that addresses some of the causes of polypharmacy (the use of multiple medications that increases the risk for adverse drug interactions) in the elderly and offers alternative drug therapies and resources to patients and providers. 

Project Resources

Project resources for potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) are provided on these pages:

• Articles
• Tools
• Websites

Project Guidelines

American Geriatrics Society: Pharmacological Management of Persistent Pain in Older Persons

Project Presentation

Polypharmacy in the Elderly (104kb PPT)
Rosemary D. Laird, MD
University of Kansas Medical Center
Center on Aging

Contact Information

Jim Turpin
Quality Improvement Consultant
DrugSafety@tmf.org 
1-866-439-5863, ext. 644
512-334-1787 fax

Source

1 “The Cost of Falls Among the Community-Dwelling Elderly,” Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy, 2005; 11 (4): 307-16.