Psychotropic medication withdrawal and a home-based exercise program to prevent falls: A randomized, controlled trial.

Assessed the effectiveness of psychotropic medication withdrawal and a home-based exercise program in reducing falls in older people randomized controlled trial with a two by two factorial design. 93 women and men aged 65+ yrs registered with a general practitioner and currently taking psychotropic medication were the Ss. Two interventions were used: (1) gradual withdrawal of psychotropic medication vs continuing to take psychotropic medication (double blind) and (2) a home-based exercise program vs no exercise program (single blind). After 44 wks, the relative hazard for falls in the medication withdrawal group compared with the group taking their original medication was .34 (95% CI,.16–.74). The risk of failing for the exercise program group compared with those not receiving the exercise program was not significantly reduced. Withdrawal of psychotropic medication significantly reduced the risk of failing, but permanent withdrawal is very difficult to achieve. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)