Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of psychotropic medication withdrawal and a home-based exercise program in reducing falls in older people. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial with a two by two factorial design. SETTING: Seventeen general practices in Dunedin, New Zealand. PARTICIPANTS: Women and men aged 65 years registered with a general practitioner and currently taking psychotropic medication (n = 93). INTERVENTIONS: Two interventions: (1) gradual withdrawal of psychotropic medication versus continuing to take psychotropic medication (double blind) and (2) a home-based exercise program versus no exercise program (single blind). MEASUREMENTS: Number of falls and falls risk during 44 weeks of follow-up. Analysis was on an intent to treat basis. RESULTS: After 44 weeks, the relative hazard for falls in the medication withdrawal group compared with the group taking their original medication was .34 (95% CI, .16-.74). The risk of falling for the exercise program group compared with those not receiving the exercise program was not significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: Withdrawal of psychotropic medication significantly reduced the risk of falling, but permanent withdrawal is very difficult to achieve.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 850-853 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Journal of the American Geriatrics Society |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jul 1999 |
Keywords
- Exercise
- Falls
- Psychotropic medication
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology