STOPP Criteria: What They Are and How They Prevent Harmful Drug Use in Older Adults

When older adults take too many drugs, the risk of serious harm goes up fast. The STOPP criteria, a set of evidence-based guidelines used to identify potentially inappropriate prescribing in older patients. Also known as Screening Tool of Older Person's Prescriptions, it helps doctors spot prescriptions that could do more harm than good. These aren’t just suggestions—they’re backed by real-world data from hospitals and clinics where seniors ended up in the ER because of drug reactions that should’ve been avoided.

STOPP criteria focus on common mistakes: giving an elderly patient a drug that interacts badly with another, prescribing something with dangerous side effects like dizziness or confusion, or using an outdated medication when a safer option exists. For example, long-term use of benzodiazepines for sleep is flagged because it increases fall risk. Or using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen in someone with kidney issues or heart failure. These aren’t rare cases—they happen every day in clinics and nursing homes. The polypharmacy, the use of multiple medications by a patient, often older adults. Also known as multiple drug therapy, it is the main reason STOPP exists. Nearly half of adults over 65 take five or more drugs. Each one adds risk. STOPP cuts through the noise by telling doctors exactly which combinations to avoid.

It’s not about cutting drugs for the sake of it. It’s about smarter choices. If someone’s on a proton pump inhibitor for heartburn but doesn’t have a diagnosed ulcer, STOPP says to reconsider. If a patient is taking an anticholinergic for overactive bladder but already has memory problems, STOPP flags it. These aren’t theoretical concerns. Studies show using STOPP reduces hospital admissions by up to 30% in older patients. The drug interactions in seniors, harmful combinations of medications that affect older adults more severely due to slower metabolism and reduced organ function. Also known as medication adverse reactions in the elderly, they often go unnoticed because symptoms like fatigue or confusion are blamed on aging. STOPP gives providers a checklist to catch these before they become emergencies.

You’ll find posts here that dig into real cases: how azathioprine can cause dangerous drops in blood cells if not monitored, why fentanyl patches are risky for seniors, and how pill splitting might save money but increase errors in older patients. These aren’t random topics—they’re all connected to the same problem: older adults getting medications that don’t match their needs. The prescribing errors, mistakes in drug selection, dosage, or duration that lead to harm in vulnerable populations. Also known as medication mismanagement, they happen because doctors are rushed, patients don’t speak up, and systems don’t flag risks. STOPP fixes that gap.

What you’ll find below are practical, real-life stories about how medications affect older adults—not just the science, but the consequences. From antifungal drugs that cause liver damage in seniors to beta-blockers that shouldn’t be mixed with certain heart pills, every post ties back to one truth: better prescribing saves lives. You won’t find fluff here. Just clear facts, real examples, and the tools to ask the right questions when it comes to medication safety for you or someone you care for.