Meclizine Use and Subsequent Falls Among Patients With Dizziness

Is receipt of meclizine by patients with dizziness associated with a risk of falling requiring medical care?In this cohort study of 805 454 patients aged 18 years or older evaluated for dizziness, 8% filled a meclizine prescription, and of those, 9% had a fall resulting in a medical encounter. Receipt of meclizine was associated with a 2.5-fold greater risk of falling among patients aged 65 years or older and a 3-fold greater risk among those aged 18 to 64 years.Meclizine use following dizziness presentation is associated with increased risk of falls among both patients aged 65 years or older and those aged 18 to 64 years.

Corresponding Author: Schelomo Marmor, PhD, MPH, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St SE, MMC 195, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (marm0014@umn.edu).

Link to the article in your story

We encourage you to link out to this article in your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)

Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Need more information? Contact us.