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Aims: Various diseases in the elderly and consumption of items with more drug-related physiological changes of aging increase medical complications and the problems related to drug therapy in the elderly. The purpose of this study is to investigate the pattern of medicine consumption and its effective factors on the elders in Gonabad city. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 323 elderly people who were selected by multi stage sampling method in 2011. The data were collected through interview by visiting households with elderly using a questionnaire consisting of three parts: demographic characteristics, patterns of drug use, and factors influencing the pattern of drug use. The obtained data were analyzed employing descriptive statistics and analytical tests of Chi-square and ANOVA. Results: Among the samples, 72.1% was taking medication. The mean of taking drug was 4.06± 0.3 during the day. The simultaneous use of four drugs was observed in the 56.6% of the samples. 53.3% of elderly were the irrational user of medicine. Most medications among the participants included cardiovascular drugs (67.8%). ASA, atenolol, and ranitidine were the drugs used most by the elderly. There was no significant relationship between the use of self-medication and age. Conclusion: Due to the risk of several diseases simultaneously on the part of the elderly, drug therapy and irrational use of medicine are often some of the main issues requiring serious attention in that period.

Keywords: drug therapy, taking arbitrary, elderly

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