ADVERSE DRUG-REACTIONS IN THE ELDERLY AND THEIR PREVENTION

Increasing age is often associated with multiple medical problems and therefore, the potential for increasing amounts of prescribed medicati on. Adverse reactions are a recognised hazard of drug therapy in elder ly patients due to the amount of medication prescribed and the greater susceptibility of older people to adverse reactions. The problem is u nlikely to diminish in the near future due to the proportionately incr easing ageing population. Prevention of adverse drug reactions in the elderly deserves closer attention.