What Is the Beers Criteria Medication List?
The AGS Beers Criteria is a clinical tool that identifies medicines or combinations that may be potentially inappropriate for many adults age 65 and older. It is not a forbidden-drug list and cannot replace a person?s diagnosis, kidney function, goals, history, or treatment response.
| Focus | Useful question |
|---|---|
| Purpose of the list | What does this mean in this situation? |
| Changing medication response | What does this mean in this situation? |
| Common risk patterns | What does this mean in this situation? |
1. What are the Beers Criteria?
The AGS Beers Criteria is a clinical tool that identifies medicines or combinations that may be potentially inappropriate for many adults age 65 and older. It is not a forbidden-drug list and cannot replace a person?s diagnosis, kidney function, goals, history, or treatment response. A useful response begins with the facts that are current, observable, and important to the person involved. Record timing, functional effects, and questions before a conversation so that an impression can become a practical next step.
Do not let a short label decide the whole situation. Discuss the concern with the relevant qualified professional, ask what would change the recommendation, and request a clear follow-up plan. This approach keeps purpose of the list connected to evidence rather than assumption.
2. Why does age change risk?
Kidney and liver function, blood-pressure regulation, balance, vision, and cognition can change with age or illness. Frailty, dehydration, dementia, and multiple prescriptions can magnify effects such as sedation or low blood pressure. A medicine that once helped may deserve reassessment after a fall or hospitalization. A useful response begins with the facts that are current, observable, and important to the person involved. Record timing, functional effects, and questions before a conversation so that an impression can become a practical next step.
Do not let a short label decide the whole situation. Discuss the concern with the relevant qualified professional, ask what would change the recommendation, and request a clear follow-up plan. This approach keeps changing medication response connected to evidence rather than assumption.
3. Which patterns raise questions?
The criteria often prompt questions about strong anticholinergic effects, sedatives, bleeding risk, and drug-disease interactions. Include over-the-counter sleep aids, allergy products, pain relievers, herbs, creams, and eye drops in the conversation. The exact risk depends on dose, other medicines, and the person. A useful response begins with the facts that are current, observable, and important to the person involved. Record timing, functional effects, and questions before a conversation so that an impression can become a practical next step.
Do not let a short label decide the whole situation. Discuss the concern with the relevant qualified professional, ask what would change the recommendation, and request a clear follow-up plan. This approach keeps common risk patterns connected to evidence rather than assumption.
4. How does review work?
Bring every container or a current list showing name, dose, timing, purpose, prescriber, and actual use. Add recent falls, sleepiness, confusion, nausea, bleeding, urinary changes, and missed doses. For each medicine ask why it is used, whether it helps, what risks matter now, and whether dose fits kidney function. A useful response begins with the facts that are current, observable, and important to the person involved. Record timing, functional effects, and questions before a conversation so that an impression can become a practical next step.
Do not let a short label decide the whole situation. Discuss the concern with the relevant qualified professional, ask what would change the recommendation, and request a clear follow-up plan. This approach keeps medication reconciliation connected to evidence rather than assumption.
A practical decision path
- Start with the older adult’s goal and current concern.
- Compare practical options and available support.
- Choose the safest next step and decide who will follow up.
5. What is deprescribing?
Deprescribing is supervised reduction or stopping of a medicine whose harm may outweigh benefit. It is not simply taking fewer pills. Some medicines need tapering to avoid withdrawal or rebound symptoms, so never stop a prescribed drug abruptly without advice (AGS, 2023). A useful response begins with the facts that are current, observable, and important to the person involved. Record timing, functional effects, and questions before a conversation so that an impression can become a practical next step.
Do not let a short label decide the whole situation. Discuss the concern with the relevant qualified professional, ask what would change the recommendation, and request a clear follow-up plan. This approach keeps careful tapering connected to evidence rather than assumption.
6. When is urgent advice needed?
Seek prompt medical advice for severe allergic symptoms, fainting, black or bloody stools, uncontrolled vomiting, sudden confusion, a serious fall, suspected overdose, or very low blood sugar. Call emergency services for breathing trouble, stroke signs, chest pain, or unresponsiveness. A useful response begins with the facts that are current, observable, and important to the person involved. Record timing, functional effects, and questions before a conversation so that an impression can become a practical next step.
Do not let a short label decide the whole situation. Discuss the concern with the relevant qualified professional, ask what would change the recommendation, and request a clear follow-up plan. This approach keeps urgent symptoms connected to evidence rather than assumption.
7. How can families help safely?
Use one current list with every clinician and pharmacist, and update it after a hospital stay or dose change. Ask about large-print labels, synchronized refills, and packaging that the person can use safely. The aim is a regimen that is understandable, worthwhile, and safe in daily life. A useful response begins with the facts that are current, observable, and important to the person involved. Record timing, functional effects, and questions before a conversation so that an impression can become a practical next step.
Do not let a short label decide the whole situation. Discuss the concern with the relevant qualified professional, ask what would change the recommendation, and request a clear follow-up plan. This approach keeps a shared current list connected to evidence rather than assumption.
A medication review is especially important after a new diagnosis, a fall, a hospital discharge, or a change in kidney function. These events can alter the reason for a drug or the safety of its dose. Do not assume that a list printed at discharge has been reconciled with every medicine already taken at home. Ask the pharmacist to compare both lists.
Some side effects are easily mistaken for aging. Drowsiness, constipation, poor appetite, dizziness, confusion, and unsteady walking may be caused or worsened by medicines. Reporting the timing of symptoms can help clinicians investigate. Do not accept a troubling change as inevitable without asking whether treatment could be contributing.
The Beers Criteria support shared decision-making rather than a contest about whether a pill is good or bad. A medicine may remain necessary despite a listed concern when alternatives fail or the benefit is important to the patient. The conversation should explain that tradeoff and name how harm will be monitored.
Store medicines safely and remove expired or discontinued products through an approved disposal route. Keep prescriptions in original containers until a pharmacist advises otherwise. This reduces mix-ups when several people help. A current written list remains essential because pill bottles do not always show why a medicine is being used.
Ask for a medication review at a time when there is enough space for questions rather than during a rushed refill request. Bring a family member or caregiver if the patient wants support. It can help to state the person?s goals plainly: staying alert for a grandchild?s visit, avoiding falls, reducing pain, or simplifying a difficult routine. These goals may change the value of a medicine more than a checklist can. If a change is made, write the exact dose, start date, expected benefit, possible adverse effects, and follow-up date. Use one pharmacy when possible so interaction screening is more complete. The Beers Criteria are most helpful when they start this organized conversation and least helpful when they are used to frighten someone into stopping treatment without supervision.
Keep the written record about What Is the Beers Criteria Medication List? in a place that the person and trusted helpers can find. At the next conversation, ask what has changed since the last decision and whether the plan still matches the person?s goals, resources, and safety needs.
References
- American Geriatrics Society. (2023). 2023 updated AGS Beers Criteria?.
- National Institute on Aging. (2024). Medicines and older adults.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Safe use of medicines.