Table 3 Most frequent prescriptions resulting in PIMs

1

Calcium-channel blockers with chronic constipation

74 (17.2%)

2

Long-term use of NSAID (>3 months) for relief of mild joint pain in osteoarthritis

16 (3.7%)

3

Long-term (>1 month) use of long-acting benzodiazepines, and with long-acting metabolites

15 (3.5%)

4

NSAID with moderate-to-severe hypertension or with heart failure

14 (3.3%)

5

Loop diuretic as first-line monotherapy for hypertension or for dependent ankle edema only

13 (3.0%)

6

Any regular duplicate drug class prescription, such as two concurrent opiates, NSAIDs, serotonin-specific reuptake inhibitors, loop diuretics, and ACE inhibitors

11 (2.6%)

7

Benzodiazepines for patients who have had at least 1 fall in the past 3 months

10 (2.3%)