Abstract
The elder population suffers major number of disease than younger patients; therefore, they consume a higher number of drugs than rest of populations. A recent study made in USA shows that proximately 77% of people older than 65 years old consume at least one medicament although this people represent 12% of total population but this corresponds to 30% of medications used in that country. Other reports indicate that this population consume between 1,5 and 4,2 drugs, which can result expensive and exist the clinic risk when drugs are used as polypharmacy because of the increase risk related with factors as the age and the possibility of apparition of adverse effects, which can be severe for health. In the present study we describe the pattern of medication consumption based in previous reports made in elderly Mexicans and compared with investigations from other countries. We find that the most consumed medications are those used in cardiovascular, central nervous system and analgesic-antiinflammatory. However it is concluded that health politics are required to improve the use of medicaments in elderly based in a correct prescription, evaluation in the compliance and strategies trying to avoid the use with multidrug simultaneously. Applying those politics the use of drugs will help the patient to improve their health, and eliminate the risk due to bad use of drugs. (MÉD.UIS. 2012;25(2):129-36)
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