Meds75+

The purpose of the Meds75+ database of medication for older persons is to support the clinical decision-making on the pharmacotherapy of persons over 75 years of age and to improve medication safety in primary health care. The database contains classification and recommendation for almost 500 drug substances or their combination when used in older persons.

The Meds75+ database is maintained by the Finnish Medicines Agency, Fimea. The database is available for everyone free of charge in Fimea’s Medicine’s Search.

Medicine Search FimeaWeb

Frequently asked questions

Content of the database

The drug substances are classified into categories A, B, C and D. The category indicates how suitable the substance is for persons over 75 years of age. The categories are based on a multidisciplinary clinical consensus. The expert group will update the information cards at least once every three years or when necessary.

• A (green):

Suitable for older persons. Drug substance can be used as in younger patients. Changes due to aging do not affect the dose or dosing frequency. Adverse effects are not different from that of younger patients.

• B (grey):

Present evidence or experience on use in older persons is vague or efficacy of the drug substance is insufficient.

• C (yellow):

Suitable for older persons, with specific cautions. Drug substance can be used with consideration. Dose or dosing frequency must be adjusted due to age-related changes and/or decreased renal function. A significant risk of interactions or adverse effects may be associated with the use of substance.

• D (red):

Avoid use in older persons. Risk of adverse effects typically exceeds the benefits. Can be used only in exceptional cases.

• No classification:

The drug is not classified in the Meds75+ database. The database contains the most common medicines used in primary health care in the treatment of those aged 75 or over. The database does not contain only medicines used in the hospital, intravenously administered medicines, cancer medicines, vaccines, products requiring special permits and medicines only used in connection with procedures or special situations.

The recommendation texts for each substance contains information on the effects and dosing of the substance and the most typical adverse reactions and interactions. The recommendation text does not contain indications or contraindications.

Other criteria for the pharmacotherapy of older people (Beers, STOPP/START, EU(7)-PIM, Sweden’s indicators on pharmacotherapy for older people, STOPPFall) have been taken into account in the preparation of the database.

Using the database

The database is available to everyone free of charge and is primarily intended for use by physicians and other healthcare professionals. The database is available in Finnish, Swedish and English. It must be borne in mind that individual cases might require the use of category D medicinal products. The pharmacotherapy must be started, changed or discontinued under the supervision of a physician.

The content of the database is available as open data. Read more on the terms and conditions for Fimea's open data licences CC BY 4.0.

Database:

Meds75+ database
Meds75+ (schema and info)
Meds75+ (XML)

Read more:

Paulamäki J, Jyrkkä J, Hyttinen V, Jämsen E. Prevalence of potentially inappropriate medication use in older population: comparison of the Finnish Meds75+ database with eight published criteria. BMC Geriatr 2023; 23(1):139. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03706-z

Paulamäki J, Jyrkkä J, Huupponen R, Jämsen E, Ahonen J, Antikainen R, Hartikainen S, Jauhonen H-M, Laurila J, Roitto H-M, Söderling R, Tiihonen M, Kalso E. Lääke75+ auttaa iäkkään potilaan kivun hoidossa [Meds75+ helps in the treatment of pain experienced by older patients].  Suomen lääkärilehti 2022; 77(9-10): 372-375.

Paulamäki J, Jyrkkä J, Jämsen E. Lääke75+-tietokanta edistää iäkkäiden lääkitysturvallisuutta [The Meds75+ database promotes the medication safety of older people]. Lääketietoa Fimeasta 1/2021. Published online 19.3.2021. www.sic.fimea.fi

Jyrkkä J. Miten Lääke75+-tietokanta tehdään [How is the Meds75+ database compiled].  Lääketietoa Fimeasta 2019; 9(1-2):34-35.

Beers Criteria

American Geriatrics Society 2019 Updated AGS Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults. J Am Geriatr Soc 2019; 67:674-694. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.15767

STOPP/START (only the STOPP section)

O’Mahony D, O’Sullivan D, Byrne S, O’Connor MN, Ryan C, Gallagher: STOPP/START criteria for potentially inappropriate prescribing in older people: version 2. Age Ageing 2015; 44:213-218. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afu145

EU(7)PIM list

Renom-Guiteras A, Meyer G, Thürmann PA. The EU(7)-PIM list: a list of potentially inappropriate medications for older people consented by ex-perts from seven European countries. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 2015; 71:861-875.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00228-015-1860-9

STOPPFall

Seppälä LJ, Petrovic M, Ryg J, Bahat G, Topinkova E, Szczerbi’nska K, ym. STOPPFall (Screening Tool of Older Persons Prescriptions in older adults with high fall risk): a Delphi study by the EuGMS Task and Finish Group on Fall-Risk-Increasing Drugs. Age Ageing 2021; 50:1189-1199. https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afaa249

Indikatorer för god läkemedelsterapi hos äldre

Socialstyrelsen. Äldre och läkemedel. 2019 [cited 2023 Mar 2]. Available from: https://www.socialstyrelsen.se/kunskapsstod-och-regler/omraden/aldre/aldres-halsa/aldre-och-lakemedel/

Download logo:

Meds75+ (zip package)

Logos are not allowed to use in commercially. More information: communications@fimea.fi.

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