ABSTRACT
Although elderly people comprise only 18" of the population, they not only receive a disproportionate amount of prescribed medication, but that proportion is increasing. Thus, in 1985 39" of all prescriptions were dispensed to them, compared with 45" in 1995. A major problem facing the general practitioner can be lack of time. The older person may suffer from many different disabilities or conditions which produce a range of symptoms. Over-the-counter medication has been available for many years. Many adults use these drugs to treat common illnesses and, therefore, they will develop increasing importance in the future as the flow of new and more powerful medicines are converted from prescriber-only medicines to pharmacy medicines. The community pharmacist has a major role in advising patients about health problems, reinforcing advice from the doctor, as well as providing a dispensing service. Community pharmacists are frequently involved in Disposal of Unwanted Medicine and Poison campaigns.
