Which endocrine medication is considered inappropriate for older adults due to potential for cardiac problems and risks in men with prostate cancer?

• A. Estrogens with or without progestin
• B. Androgens
• C. Insulin sliding scale
• D. Desiccated thyroid

Answer: (B)

Androgens are flagged in the Beers Criteria for older adults because they carry meaningful cardiac risks and can stimulate prostate cancer growth. Testosterone therapies can cause fluid retention, edema, hypertension, and potentially worsen heart failure, and they may promote the progression of prostate cancer in men. These combined risks make androgen therapy inappropriate in this population. The other options don’t pair the specific dual risk of cardiovascular problems with prostate cancer in the same way, so they’re less concerning in this context.