Sensible prescribing for older people

Prescribers for older people should aim to ensure maximum benefit from medication and minimisation of adverse effects which can result from excessive, inappropriate or inadequate use. Application of research evidence of benefits and risks to older patients is difficult as they are often excluded from clinical trials. Absolute benefit is likely to be at least as large as in younger patients. The risk of adverse effects may be higher for some drugs given to older people and undermine the value of therapy. 'Real-life' trials with clinically relevant end-points to improve the evidence base in older people are required.