Diagnosis and treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia in the elderly.

Elderly people are at a high risk of experiencing problems with drug therapy due to age- related changes in the body, as well as exposure to many medications owing to multiple health problems. Medication-related adverse events are common amongst the elderly. Pharmacotherapy for benign prostatic hyperplasia or overactive bladder can generally im- prove lower urinary tract symptoms, whilst also improving the quality of life. However,;these drugs also have the potential to cause dangerous adverse events. For this reason, a great deal of caution should be taken when prescribing medication for elderly patients who are suffer- ing from lower urinary tract symptoms.