Opioid Initiation and the Hazard of Falls or Fractures Among Older Adults with Varying Levels of Central Nervous System Depressant Burden.

Among older adults, initiation of opioids is associated with an increased hazard of falls; however, this hazard is not modified by different levels of CNS depressant burden. This suggests that it remains important for physicians, patients, and caregivers to be vigilant when starting new opioid therapy regardless of other CNS medications taken concurrently.