Medication for older people—Aspects of rational therapy from the general practitioner’s point of viewMedikamentenverschreibung für ältere Patienten—Aspekte rationaler Therapie aus der Sicht des Hausarztes

This paper discusses GP perspectives on the principles underlying rational pharmacotherapy for older people. The rising use of prescription medicine forces the GP to balance the benefit of evidence group-based appropriate drug use against the problems arising when medication is given to older people and to consider different approaches when evaluating evidence of risk and benefit for the individual. Old people are facing a considerable risk of adverse drug reactions and recent initiatives, including the Continuous Medical Educational Efforts Programme, address issues of inappropriate prescribing practices.