Long-Term Care Survey Alert

Tool:

Know What Surveyors Know:  Review This State Operations Manual Table Listing Anticholinergic Medications and Side Effects

MEDICATIONS WITH SIGNIFICANT ANTICHOLINERGIC PROPERTIES

Table II lists common medications with significant anticholinergic properties and potential adverse consequences, but is not all-inclusive. Any of the following signs and symptoms may be caused by any of the medications in the lists below, alone or in combination, as well as by other medications not listed here that have anticholinergic properties.

This table is provided because: 1) Medications in many categories have anticholinergic properties; 2) The use of multiple medications with such properties may be particularly problematic because of the cumulative effects; and 3) Anticholinergic side effects are particularly common and problematic, especially in the older individual61, 62.