Consumer Reports has published a valuable article identifying common prescription drugs that can be dangerous for older patients. Healthcare consumers over age 65 are more than twice as likely to suffer from adverse drug reactions; the publication lists the following drugs as posing a high enough risk that they should be avoided if possible:

• Antianxiety drugs

  Chlordiazepoxide (Librium, Limbitrol); diazepam (Valium); quazepam (Doral)

  Recommended alternatives: alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), and oxazepam (Serax)

• Antidepressants

  Amitriptyline, doxepin (Sinequan) and Fluoxetine (Prozac)

  Recommended alternatives: citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil), and sertraline (Zoloft)

• Antihistamines

  Chlorpheniramine (Chlor-Trimeton); diphenhydramine (Benadryl)

  Recommended alternatives: Cetirizine (Zyrtec); fexofenadine (Allegra); loratadine (Claritin)

• High blood pressure and enlarged prostate drugs

  Doxazosin (Cardura); prazosin (Minipress); terazosin (Hytrin)

  Recommended alternatives: Diuretics for high blood pressure; tamsulosin (Flomax) for enlarged prostate.

• Pain relievers

  Naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn); oxaprozin (Daypro); piroxicam (Feldene); Meperidine (Demerol)

  Recommended alternatives: acetaminophen (Tylenol); ibuprofen (Advil ); capsaicin cream (Zostrix); morphine

• Sleeping pills

  Barbituates (Butisol, Nembutal, Seconal); diphenhydramine (Sominex); flurazepam (Dalmane)

  Recommended alternatives: zaleplon (Sonata) and zolpidem (Ambien)

• Stomach drugs

  Bisacodyl (Dulcolax); Diphenoxylate (Lomotil)

  Recommended alternatives: Increased intake of fiber and fluids; change in diet; loperamide (Imodium AD)