Safe, but also effective drug therapy for elderly patients! Recognize not only unsuitable, but above all suitable drugs. What are the special features? Which side effects and interactions must be considered in particular, and may be misinterpreted as independent diseases? People over 65 years of age form the fastest growing population group. Elderly patients often have several, often chronic, diseases. Adverse drug reactions are more frequent than average due to altered biological parameters (e.g., reduced kidney function, more fat, less muscle mass), lack of adherence, and multiple medications with hardly predictable interactions. Recommendations for all relevant diseases, including addictive diseases, are provided. Interactions of medications with food (e.g., grapefruit) or with herbal medications (e.g., St. John's wort preparations) are also discussed.

New features include the latest data, statistics, and key evidence, along with a rating system of suitability of drugs for the elderly according to FORTA: a top up-to-date list after the third Delphi process in 2018. The content has been completely revised, focusing on choosing wisely. Suggested solutions and answers for daily practice include medical safety: which drugs have priority? What can or must be omitted? Economic safety: better drug therapy with fewer prescriptions, ensuring compliance with the drug budget.