Educational visit

Anticholinergic burden: the unintended consequences for older people

Improving the safe use of medicines with anticholinergic effects for older people can have a positive impact on quality of life and reduce the risk of side effects.

  • Start: 11 October 2021

  • Cost: free

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Anticholinergics program Getty Images-684539332
 

Accreditation

One-on-one discussion
This activity has been approved for 2 points (CPD Activity) under the RACGP CPD Program for the 2020–2022 triennium (activity: 297840).

Small group meeting
This activity has been approved for 2 points (CPD Activity) under the RACGP CPD Program for the 2020–2022 triennium (activity: 296350).

One-on-one discussion

This activity has been accredited for 1 hour under the performance review category in the ACRRM PD Program for the 2020-2022 triennium (activity code: 24335).

Small group meeting

This activity has been accredited for 1 hour under the performance review category in the ACRRM PD Program for the 2020-2022 triennium (activity code: 24337).

 

About

Older people on multiple medications are at greater risk from cumulative anticholinergic burden. This occurs when the anticholinergic effects of individual medicines add together to produce unintentional consequences.

Some of the side effects of this anticholinergic burden, such as dry mouth and constipation, impact on quality of life. But others, particularly dizziness and falls, can be far more serious. Exposure to high anticholinergic and sedative burden has been associated with a 60% increase in fall-related hospitalisations.


This educational visiting program has been developed to:

  • help GPs recognise the extent to which different medicines contribute to anticholinergic burden
  • support better outcomes from existing resources and pathways, such as Medication Management Reviews, whether conducted in a residential aged care facility or at home
  • provide a range of tools to assist with reducing anticholinergic burden, such as a fact sheet, decision aid and action plan for patients and their carers.

Educational visits are available as:

  • One-on-one: a 30-minute in-practice discussion for GPs, tailored to individual learning needs.
  • Small group: a 1-hour group discussion for GPs, pharmacists and nurses.
  • Virtual visits: via video call. Available to support practices who wish to continue educational activities without a face-to-face appointment.

All visits will comply with current state and territory regulations for social distancing.