The appropriate and safe use of drugs by the elderly requires special knowledge and skills if the benefits of treatment are to outweigh the risks. This review of published reports covers the use and misuse of drugs by the elderly, drug therapy in elderly patients and prescribing for the elderly. Presentation and packaging of drugs is considered and medication errors are discussed along with compliance and self-administration. The latter part is devoted to education of health care professionals in geriatric drug therapy and educating the elderly in their use of drugs.