The number of elderly people is rapidly growing all over the world. The use of
drugs in this age group is risky due to physiological changes associated to the aging process
and the potential interactions. Polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication is a
common finding in the elderly and it is considered a public health issue related to
morbidity, mortality and health care resource use. Avoiding the use of inappropriate and
high risk drugs is an important, simple and effective strategy to reduce the problems
associated with medication in the elderly. A compromise between the principles of
evidence-based medicine and good gerontological practice is required. Different strategies
have been developed to help reduce potentially inappropriate prescribing. Regular and
systematic review of treatment, patient education, collaboration with the pharmacist, the
use of electronic aids and tools like Beers or STOPP-START criteria are strategies to help
reduce potentially inappropriate prescribing of our elders.
Keywords: Adverse drug reaction, Anticholinergic risk, Appropriate prescribing, Beers
criteria, Drugs, Drug prescription, Drug withdrawl, Elderly, Electronic prescribing,
Electronic aids, Explicit criteria, Geriatric, Implicit criteria, Inappropriate medication,
Inappropriate prescribing, Medicine Appropriateness Index, Pharmacology,
Polypharmacy, Potentially inappropriate medication, STOPP-START criteria.
