[Aspects of palliative pharmacotherapy in geriatric patients: what is rational in the presence of severe frailty? : Shared decision-making as the basis for finding solutions].

Difficulties with polypharmacy are a recognized problem in geriatric patients suffering from multimorbidity. Clinical science has developed several solutions to this problem. The most widely endorsed approach is the use of medication lists, which methodically categorize substances or substance classes. The risk of drug interactions or prescription cascades increases with the number of medications. In the case of severe frailty or life-limiting disease within a palliative context, modification of treatment objectives is imperative. Reevaluation of the existing pharmacotherapy is required. In order to correspond most individually to patients' wishes and values, substantial knowledge of patients' needs and contextual factors (physical and psychological symptom burden, availability of care, social situation) is essential. This is necessary for a good risk-benefit analysis under patients' involvement.