Rationale, aims and objectives  To evaluate if an integrated medicines management can lead to a more appropriate drug use in elderly inpatients.

Method  The study was an intervention study at a department of internal medicine in southern Sweden. During the intervention period pharmacists took part in the daily work at the wards. Systematic interventions aiming to identify, solve and prevent drug‐related problems (DRPs) were performed during the patient's hospital stay by multidisciplinary teams consisting of physicians, nurses and pharmacists. DRPs identified by the pharmacist were put forward to the care team and discussed. Medication Appropriateness Index (MAI) was used to evaluate the appropriateness in the patients' drug treatment at admission, discharge and 2 weeks after discharge. In total 43 patients were included, 28 patients in the intervention group and 25 patients in the group which was used as control.

Results  For the intervention group there was a significant decrease in the number of inappropriate drugs compared with the control group (P = 0.049). Indication, duration and expenses were the MAI‐dimensions with most inappropriate ratings, and the drugs with most inappropriate ratings were anxiolytics, hypnotics and sedatives.

Conclusion  This kind of systematic approach on drug therapy can result in a more appropriate drug use in the elderly.