Prescription drugs and the elderly. Strategies for effective drug prescribing and use.

The author explains why the elderly are particularly at risk for problems of noncompliance with prescribed drug regimens and describes some innovative strategies that can be used to prevent or reduce both inappropriate prescribing by physicians and noncompliance among the elderly. These strategies can be applied by health professionals providing or monitoring drug therapy for the elderly (primarily physicians and pharmacists) and some can also be undertaken by the elderly working in close collaboration with clinical pharmacists. The paper concludes with an examination of the potential role of continuing education in ameliorating some of the problems discussed here.