Geriatric emergency medication safety recommendations: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 19:29, 20 May 2026

Therapeutic Class	Alternatives	Exclusions
Barbiturates	Epilepsy: use other anticonvulsants (e.g., lamotrigine, levetiracetam). Agitation: treat pain first with acetaminophen then low-dose opioid. Severe agitation: use low-dose second-generation antipsychotic (eg, olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine [Lewy body dementia]).	Seizures disorders, benzodiazepine or ethanol withdrawal, barbiturates are acceptable to use.
Benzodiazepines	Epilepsy: use other anticonvulsants (eg, lamotrigine, levetiracetam). Agitation: treat pain first with acetaminophen then low-dose opioid. Severe agitation: use nonpharmacologic approach then low-dose second-generation antipsychotic (eg, olanzapine, risperidone, quetiapine [Lewy body dementia]).	Seizure disorders: benzodiazepine or ethanol withdrawal, severe generalized anxiety disorder, and end of life, benzodiazepines are acceptable to use.
First-Generation Antihistamines	Allergies: use intranasal saline or steroid (eg, fluticasone, beclomethasone), topical antihistamines (eg, azelastine), or second-generation antihistamines (eg, fexofenadine, loratadine). Vertigo: use short-term steroids and canalith repositioning maneuvers.

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 | First-Generation Antihistamines
-*Allergies: use intranasal saline or steroid (eg, fluticasone, beclomethasone), topical antihistamines (eg, azelastine), or second-generation antihistamines (eg, fexofenadine,
-loratadine).40,63 For vertigo, use short-term steroids and
-canalith repositioning maneuvers.37,38
 |
+*Allergies: use intranasal saline or steroid (eg, fluticasone, beclomethasone), topical antihistamines (eg, azelastine), or second-generation antihistamines (eg, fexofenadine, loratadine).
+*Vertigo: use short-term steroids and canalith repositioning maneuvers.
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