General
Is there any charge or fee to use PIMsPlus?
No, there is no charge for individuals or healthcare professionals to use the PIMsPlus.org website. For complete details on permitted use of the data, please review our Terms & Conditions.
Do you have a mailing list?
We do. Click here to be added to our PIMsPlus email updates.
Why can’t I find a certain drug?
PIMsPlus currently only lists drugs that are available in the United States. If you are searching for a drug that is not currently available in the US, or searching by brand-name, you may not see a search result. Your best bet is to search for the generic form of the drug or one of the active ingredients.
Are there resources to aid in optimizing medications?
Yes, where appropriate, PIMsPLUS contains links to the resources page on TaperMD.com.
How frequently is the PIMsPlus list updated?
We strive to use the latest high-quality scientific evidence and produce an error-free set of recommendations. The information is updated once per quarter, and sometimes more frequently if there is important new research published that would change PIM recommendations or we find important corrections.
For Patients
What is a PIM?
A PIM is an acronym for a Potentially Inappropriate Medication. PIMs are medications that should be used with caution in older adults because the risk of adverse effects may outweigh the benefit for this group of patients. This does not mean these medications should never be used, only that these should be used with extra caution due to evidence of higher risks in older patients. Consult your doctor or pharmacist to discuss concerns you have about the medication you or a family member might be taking, and never change your medication(s) without first consulting your healthcare provider.
Will I benefit from a medication review? How can I get one?
Click here to for a PIMsPLUS tool which helps determine whether you might benefit from a medication review and find more information about contacting a pharmacist to help you with a review.
What should I do if I’m taking a medication on the PIMsPlus list?
You should discuss your concerns with your healthcare provider. Remember that medications identified as a PIM are still appropriate and important to healthcare in many circumstances.
Never change your medications without first consulting your healthcare provider. Changing your medications without proper medical supervision can be dangerous. Only your healthcare provider can advise you how to optimize or alter your medications in a safe manner.
If you think you might need a medication review or are interested in finding a pharmacist who can help you, fill out our medication review questionnaire.
For Healthcare Professionals
Who compiled the PIMsPlus list?
PIMsPlus was compiled and reviewed by a team of primary care physicians and pharmacists from the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists, the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University, and TaperMD. The team of medical reviewers have backgrounds in both medical research, and also caring for patients.
Can I use PIMsPlus data for research?
Yes! We have used PIMsPlus for academic research projects in the past, and we’d love to hear about other researchers interested in other projects! Please contact us to discuss your ideas.
What if I find an omission or issue with PIMsPlus?
We update information regularly on the list as new research is published and new contributions are made. If you would like to let us know about an issue, please contact us and we will look into it!
How is the list compiled?
The list is compiled based on information directly from scientific papers, and we currently use a unanimous consensus method about the research and recommendations to compile the list. To ensure the recommendations use the original high-quality research as much as possible, we currently do not use Delphi methods.
