According to the United Nations, the population of older people (those aged 60 and older) is expected to more than double by the year 2050. With the number of older people having comorbidities increasing, there is a direct rise in prescribing and the number of patients receiving polypharmacy treatments currently sits at around thirty percent and increasing. A number of studies have indicated that there is a correlation with polypharmacy and hospitalisation, number of falls in older people and adverse drug reactions. The use of polypharmacy may not necessarily be inappropriate and age should not be a limiting factor in correct medication usage but without a proper review, it may lead to multiple complications that may have been avoided by earlier interventions. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics properties differ amongst individuals especially amongst the elderly who do not respond the same way as normal, healthy adults to drugs. Muscle mass naturally declines as a person ages which leads to an increase in body fat. This affects the volume distribution of fat soluble drugs and increases the half-life of these drugs. Renal clearance is also decreased within the elderly, thereby affecting water soluble dugs and increases the plasma levels of these drugs which may become toxic if not dose adjusted. Liver size and function may also be affected with increase in age. Drugs that undergo first pass (hepatic) metabolism and those that are induced by hepatic enzymes (such as Cytochrome P450) are affected by changes in the liver. Serum albumin has been shown to decline with ageing which affects highly protein bound drugs. While many formularies are available to assist with paediatric dose adjustments, dose adjustments for the elderly are not always easily obtainable. In order to minimise inappropriate prescribing and adverse drug reactions in the elderly, health professionals need to capitalise on available resources and technologies. Communication is the first step especially in cases where multiple specialists consult a patient. Pharmacists and nurses play a crucial role in intervention and should establish relationships with prescribers. Prescribers should not allow external influences to impact on treatment centred on evidence based medicine. In conclusion, as the number of older patients and the comorbidities that they present increase, the value of available drug treatments should not be underestimated. However, proper evidence based treatment and correct dosage evaluation is needed to avoid complications associated with polypharmacy.