Trigger Tool of Noorda et al for Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) in an Elderly Patient with Polypharmacy: Falls, Collapse or Syncope

Patient selection: geriatric patient with polypharmacy, admitted acutely to the hospital.

Adverse drug reaction: falls, collapse and syncope

Implicated drugs:

(1) antihypertensive drugs (ACE-I, ARB, calcium antagonists, beta-blockers, alpha-1 blockers, long-acting nitrates, other)

(2) anti-arrhythmic agents

(3) benzodiazepines

(4) antipsychotic drugs

(5) antidepressants

where:

• Cardiac arrhythmias could also be the cause of syncope or collapse.

• Hypotension from severe bleeding can explain collapse.