Seniors who take several medications to keep their blood pressure down, and their diabetes in check, could be at a greater risk of falling

Dr. Susan Blalock, with the UNC School of Pharmacy, has been studying how various medications used by seniors can increase their likelihood of falling and suffering serious and sometimes fatal injuries. 

Blalock warns that medications that have sedative effects, such as anti-hystamines, anxiety medication, and pain medication. 

Drugs used to treat diabetes or high blood pressure can also be dangerous if they cause an unsafe drop in blood pressure, which leads to dizzyness and possibly a fall.

Blalock also cautions seniors who use multiple medications.

Blalock's advice to seniors who have to take several different drugs is to let their doctors know all the medications that they are taking--even ones that they buy over the counter.