The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) announced the release of the Alternative Treatments to Selected Medications in the 2023 American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria, an updated clinical resource designed to help healthcare professionals identify safer, more appropriate treatment options for older adults. This companion tool builds on the 2023 AGS Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults, which remains one of the most frequently cited reference tools in geriatrics, identifying medications which may be inappropriate to prescribe to older people who are not receiving end of life care. Sunny Linnebur PharmD, FCCP, BCPS, BCGP, Professor at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, served on the interdisciplinary work group to update the criteria.
“Since the inception of the Beers Criteria, clinicians have been requesting a list of drug alternatives that might be safer for older adults,” Dr. Linnebur said. “This updated Alternatives list focuses on the commonly utilized Beers Criteria drugs and provides both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic alternatives. A major highlight includes applicable resources for patients and caregivers. It was a pleasure working alongside the other panel members to create this guidance.”
"With the AGS Beers Criteria, we help clinicians recognize medications that are potentially inappropriate for use in older adults,” said Michael Steinman, MD, AGSF, AGS Beers Criteria Co-Chair and Co-Chair of the panel that developed the AGS Alternatives List. “Now, with the updated Alternatives List, we’re taking the next step; offering evidence-based suggestions for what non-pharmacologic and pharmacologic treatments clinicians might use instead.”
“We really took a step back and asked, ‘Where are clinicians likely to run into challenges with the Beers Criteria and where would having clear alternatives be most helpful?’” added Todd P. Semla, MS, PharmD, Co-Chair of the Alternative List Panel and AGS Beers Criteria. “The expert panel focused on the medications that we thought would be most helpful to provide alternatives for, making sure we hadn’t missed anything important and that our selections truly reflected the needs of those caring for older adults.”
To develop the new Beers Criteria Alternatives List, AGS convened an interdisciplinary work group of experts across a variety of clinical syndromes and disease areas. The result is a curated list of common evidence-based alternatives that are often safer and equally or more effective than the potentially inappropriate medications they can replace. The list also includes additional resources for more in-depth recommendations and links to patient guides and other resources for help in implementing the alternative strategies into their clinical practice.
“This resource is designed with the needs of clinicians in mind, from its clear organization to its practical accessibility,” said AGS President, Paul Mulhausen, MD, MHS, AGSF. “I know this is going to be a go-to resource for many of us working to provide safer, more personalized care for older adults.”