Central Nervous System Symptoms of Elderly Subjects Using Antihypertensive Drugs

Abstract

Effects of antihypertensive agents on the frequencies of reported fainting, dizziness, losses of consciousness and bone fractures were studied in a large, ambulatory elderly population. Frequencies of these symptoms were compared for subjects who used 1 or more of 9 different antihypertensive agents, and for subjects who were not using these medications and who served as a control group. Over 40% of the total population were using at least 1 of the 9 drug groups. Women who used antihypertensive medications reported significantly more fainting (P < 0.001), dizziness (P < 0.005) and blacking-out spells (P < 0.002) but significantly fewer bone fractures (P < 0.02) compared with women who were not using such medications in the control group. For men, the use of only 1 drug group, propranolol, was associated with a significant increase in fainting and dizziness but not blacking-out spells compared with men in the control. Elderly persons may be subject to a variety of CNS side effects induced by antihypertensive drugs.