Table 3

Potentially inappropriate medication at admission and at discharge identified by STOPP criteria categorised by physiological system

PIM, n(%)
AdmissionDischarge
A. Cardiovascular system9 (22.5%)4 (14.8%)
 Digoxin at a long-term dose >125 µg/day with impaired renal function10
 Thiazide diuretic agent with a history of gout11
 β-Blocker in combination with verapamil10
 Calcium channel blockers with chronic constipation23
 Aspirin at dose >150 mg/day30
 Warfarin for first, uncomplicated deep venous thrombosis longer than 6 months' duration10
B. Central nervous system and psychotropic drugs4 (10.0%)5 (18.5%)
 Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) with constipation01
 TCAs with an opiate or calcium channel blocker21
 Long-term (ie, >1 month), longacting benzodiazepines—eg, chlordiazepoxide, fluazepam, nitrazepam, chlorazepate and benzodiazepines with longacting metabolites, e.g. diazepam20
 Long-term neuroleptic agents (>1 month) in those with parkinsonism03
C. Gastrointestinal system1 (2.5%)0
 Prochlorperazine (Stemetil) or metoclopramide with parkinsonism10
D. Respiratory system4 (10.0%)1 (3.7%)
 Nebulised ipratropium with glaucoma41
E. Musculoskeletal system5 (12.5%)0
 NSAID with moderate-to-severe hypertension20
 NSAID with heart failure10
 Warfarin and NSAID together10
 NSAID with chronic renal failure10
F. Urogenital system8 (20.0%)8 (28.6%)
 α-Blockers in men with frequent incontinence—ie, one or more episodes of incontinence daily64
 α-Blockers with long-term urinary catheter in situ—ie, >2 months24
H. Drugs that adversely affect fallers3 (7.5%)9 (32.1%)
 Benzodiazepines16
 Neuroleptic drugs22
 Long-term opiates in those with recurrent falls01
J. Duplicate drug classes6 (15.0%)1 (3.7%)
 Any duplicate drug class prescription—eg, two concurrent opiates, NSAIDs, SSRIs, loop diuretics, ACE inhibitors61
  • ACE, angiotensin-converting enzyme; NSAID, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, PIM, potentially inappropriate medications; SSRIs, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors.