Senior Medications: Safe Choices, Common Risks, and What to Avoid

When you’re over 65, senior medications, prescriptions used by older adults to manage chronic conditions like high blood pressure, arthritis, or depression. Also known as geriatric medications, they’re often necessary—but not always safe. Many drugs that work fine for younger people can cause serious problems in seniors because metabolism slows, kidneys don’t filter as well, and the brain becomes more sensitive to side effects. The biggest danger isn’t the illness—it’s the medicine meant to treat it.

Take anticholinergics, a class of drugs that block acetylcholine, a brain chemical involved in memory and muscle control. Also known as cholinergic blockers, they’re found in common meds like Benadryl, oxybutynin, and some sleep aids. These aren’t just drying out your mouth—they’re linked to brain shrinkage, confusion, and a higher risk of dementia. Studies show that taking just one anticholinergic daily for three years increases dementia risk by nearly 50%. And most seniors don’t even know they’re on one. Same with benzodiazepines, sedatives like Xanax or Valium used for anxiety or insomnia. Also known as benzos, they’re addictive, cause falls, and can make memory worse over time. Tapering off them safely isn’t optional—it’s critical. Then there’s QT prolongation, a heart rhythm disruption triggered by certain drugs that can lead to sudden cardiac arrest. Also known as long QT syndrome, it’s often silent until it’s too late. Medications for depression, infections, or even stomach issues can cause it. Seniors on multiple prescriptions are at highest risk.

You don’t need to stop all your meds. But you do need to ask: Is this still helping? Is there a safer alternative? Are there non-drug options? Many seniors take pills they don’t need, or take too many at once, because no one ever sat down and reviewed the list. The goal isn’t to eliminate treatment—it’s to eliminate unnecessary risk. Below, you’ll find real-world breakdowns of the most common senior medications, what they actually do to your body, and which ones you should question before the next refill.