Buspirone is an anti-anxiety medication that has been demonstrated to be beneficial in the treatment of elderly patients. However, because they have the potential to induce memory impairment, unsteadiness, and falls in older persons, benzodiazepines, another anti-anxiety medication, should only be taken with caution.

What is the safest antidepressant for seniors?

Citalopram, escitalopram, and sertraline are three selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) that have a favorable safety profile in the elderly.

Is Ativan or Xanax safer for elderly?

Both medicines are included on the Beers’ List of prohibited substances (drugs that may be inappropriate in older adults). When using Ativan or Xanax, older persons have higher sensitivity to benzodiazepines, and there is an increased risk of cognitive impairment, delirium, falls, fractures, and motor vehicle accidents in older adults.

Can elderly take Zoloft?

The use of sertraline in older people is usually considered to be safe, well tolerated, and convenient. Sertraline is now being investigated for use in the treatment of geriatric depression and other mental diseases, according to ongoing research.

Is Lexapro good for elderly?

Those involved in the study believe that antidepressants such as Lexapro, manufactured by Forest Laboratories Inc and known generically as escitalopram, may be useful as a new treatment option for older adults suffering from generalized anxiety disorder, a disabling condition that can also cause muscle tension, insomnia, and fatigue.

Should the elderly take lorazepam?

Age-related renal, liver, and cardiac issues in senior individuals are more common than in younger people, and they may necessitate greater vigilance and dose reductions in order to avoid undesired side effects (such as severe sleepiness or unsteadiness).

What is the safest anxiolytic to use in an elderly patient and why?

Mirtazapine is recommended for use in the elderly due to its low risk of adverse effects and low risk of drug-drug interactions, among other factors. Additionally, adverse effects can be leveraged to our benefit, such as the fact that mirtazapine can alleviate sleeplessness and enhance hunger in patients who are trying to lose weight.

Should seniors take lorazepam?

Because of the potential for cumulative toxicity, long-acting benzodiazepines are generally not recommended for elderly individuals. High-potency chemicals (e.g., lorazepam, alprazolam) may be more harmful than low-potency compounds when it comes to short-half-life medications (e.g., benzodiazepines) (e.g., oxazepam).

Should the elderly take Prozac?

Fluoxetine (Prozac) is not recommended in the geriatric population, according to Gurvich and Cunningham in their article1 on psychotropic drugs in nursing homes, due to its longer half-life of active metabolite relative to other selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which results in the potential for a longer duration of treatment.

What is Remeron used for in elderly?

In conclusion, based on my review of the literature and clinical experience, I have concluded that (1) mirtazapine is effective in the treatment of depression; (2) side effects of mirtazapine, such as somnolence and increased appetite, can be beneficial in the depressed elderly patient who is not sleeping or eating, particularly in the elderly; and (3) mirtazapine is safe and effective in the treatment of depression.

Is Paxil safe for elderly?

As defined by the updated Beers Criteria published by the American Geriatrics Society in 2015, paroxetine is a powerful anticholinergic that is regarded possibly unsuitable for older individuals with dementia and cognitive impairment.