Which of the following is NOT listed as an inappropriate medication for older adults with a history of falls or fractures?

• A. Anticholinergics
• B. Antidepressants
• C. Antihistamines
• D. Benzodiazepines

Answer: (C)

Beers Criteria focuses on medications that raise fall risk in older adults due to two main properties: anticholinergic burden and sedation or orthostatic effects. Anticholinergics can worsen confusion and delirium; benzodiazepines and other sedatives impair balance and reaction time; many antidepressants (especially tricyclics) contribute to dizziness and low blood pressure. Antihistamines, while some first‑generation ones are sedating and anticholinergic, are not universally categorized in every Beers update as an inappropriate choice specifically for falls history. In this item’s framing, antihistamines are the one class not clearly listed as inappropriate for an older adult with a history of falls or fractures, making it the best answer. If a first‑generation antihistamine like diphenhydramine were considered, it would be risky, but the question reflects a version where antihistamines aren’t on the explicit inappropriate list for falls.