Ags Releases New Guide For Safer Medication Alternatives In Older Adults

Today nan American Geriatrics Society (AGS) announced nan merchandise of nan Alternative Treatments to Selected Medications successful nan 2023 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria® (DOI: 10.1111/jgs.19500), an updated objective assets designed to thief healthcare professionals place safer, much due curen options for older adults. This companion instrumentality builds connected nan 2023 AGS Beers Criteria® for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use successful Older Adults (DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18372) which stay 1 of nan astir often cited reference devices successful geriatrics, identifying medications which whitethorn beryllium inappropriate to prescribe to older group who are not receiving extremity of life care. 

"With nan AGS Beers Criteria®, we thief clinicians admit medications that are perchance inappropriate for usage successful older adults," said Michael Steinman, MD, AGSF, AGS Beers Criteria® Co-Chair and Co-Chair of nan sheet that developed nan AGS Alternatives List. "Now, pinch nan updated Alternatives List, we're taking nan adjacent step-offering evidence-based suggestions for what non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments clinicians mightiness usage instead."

We really took a measurement backmost and asked, 'Where are clinicians apt to tally into challenges pinch nan Beers Criteria®-and wherever would having clear alternatives beryllium astir helpful?' The master sheet focused connected nan medications that we thought would beryllium astir adjuvant to supply alternatives for-making judge we hadn't missed thing important and that our selections genuinely reflected nan needs of those caring for older adults."

Todd P. Semla, MS, PharmD, Co-Chair of nan Alternative List Panel and AGS Beers Criteria®

To create nan caller AGS Beers Criteria® Alternatives List, AGS convened an interdisciplinary activity group of experts crossed a assortment of objective syndromes and illness areas. The consequence is simply a curated database of communal evidence-based alternatives that are often safer and arsenic aliases much effective than nan perchance inappropriate medications they tin replace. The database besides includes further resources for much in-depth recommendations and links to diligent guides and different resources for thief successful implementing nan replacement strategies into their objective practice.

"This assets is designed pinch nan needs of clinicians successful mind – from its clear statement to its applicable accessibility," said AGS President, Paul Mulhausen, MD, MHS, AGSF. "I cognize this is going to beryllium a go-to assets for galore of america moving to supply safer, much personalized attraction for older adults."

This caller assets reflects AGS's ongoing committedness to supporting safer prescribing and improving wellness outcomes for older adults. The Alternative Treatments to Selected Medications successful nan 2023 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria® (DOI: 10.1111/jgs.19500) has conscionable been published successful nan astir caller version of nan Journal of nan American Geriatrics Society (JAGS) and will soon beryllium incorporated into nan AGS Beers Criteria® Mobile App for easy entree on-the-go.