Older Drivers Taking Multiple Medications Could Be at Higher Risk of Accidents

A study from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety suggests older drivers on multiple medications may be elevating their risk of collisions, reports Reuters Health . Fifty percent of 2,949 seniors included in the study were taking seven or more medications, and 25 percent were taking 11 or more. Nearly 20 percent were taking potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs), according to the American Geriatrics Society. The group says PIMs should be avoided by seniors because they have very limited benefit, pose excess damage, or both. Most of these drugs, including benzodiazepines and certain antihistamines, have been shown to induce impairments like blurred vision, confusion, fatigue, or incoordination. Additional studies demonstrated that PIMs can increase the risk of a crash by up to 30 percent. "By working shoulder to shoulder with healthcare providers and pharmacists we can mitigate the risks by letting older drivers take the medications they need while allowing them to drive safely," says AAA's Jake Nelson. "The bad news is that individuals are not having the necessary conversations with their doctors and pharmacists."