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Background: Prescription of medications for elderly individuals is complex, potentially involving polypharmacy, drug interactions, and inappropriate medication. Notable among the medications are benzodiazepines, whose long-term use is common and growing among the elderly population. Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of potential drug interactions (PDI) in elderly communitydwelling patients who use benzodiazepines. Method: Cross-sectional study, conducted via household survey, with 73 elderly persons in Juiz de Fora, MG, Brazil. The search and classification of PDIs was carried out using the Micromedex® system. Results: The prevalence of benzodiazepine use in this population was 18.3% (95% CI, 15.2-21.6). The use of benzodiazepines was associated with polypharmacy (p<0.01; PR 3.03; 95% CI, 1.79-5.26). A total of 157 PDI occurrences were found in 69.9% of the elderly people assessed. Of these, 25 were related to benzodiazepines. In the elderly individuals who use benzodiazepines, polypharmacy was associated with PDI (p<0.01; PR = 16.13; 95% CI, 4.67-55.55). PDI occurrence was high in the elderly people who use benzodiazepines, including interactions of highly significant clinical value. Conclusion: In general, PDI is associated with polypharmacy, which demonstrates the need to rationalize drug use in the elderly population through continuous monitoring, seeking the simplest and safest possible therapeutic regimen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]