The relevance of educating doctors, pharmacists and older patients about potentially inappropriate medications

Providing appropriate pharmacotherapy to older people can be difficult since older people are more at risk of developing adverse drug reactions due to age-related physiological changes. The use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) among older people is common throughout the globe, and is a cause for concern due to their clinical, humanistic and economic implications. Nevertheless, it appears that doctors and pharmacists have limited knowledge regarding PIMs. Moreover, uninformed older patients may use PIMs without considering their potential negative consequences. There is a need, therefore, to educate doctors, pharmacists and older patients about PIMs. Geriatric pharmacotherapy education with an emphasis on appropriate prescribing, and PIMs, should be included in the medical and pharmacy teachings at the undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education levels. Moreover, older patients should be informed about PIMs and the possible risks that they may pose.