Objective To investigate the causes, clinical features, classifications and liver function change of drug-induced liver damage (DILD) in the elderly. Methods One hundred and sixty seven inpatients with acute drug-induced liver injury in our hospital in the past ten years (January 2000 to December 2009) were retrospectively investigated,and the diagnosis and classification methods of acute DILD were based on international consensus meeting (international criteria). Results Among 167 DILI cases, there were 53 cases (31.7%) in the older group and 114 cases (68.3%) in middle-youth age group. Fatigue and jaundice were the more common symptoms, accounting for 50.3% and 46.7%, respectively. In 167 cases, no obvious symptoms and signs were shown in 25 cases. There were no significance differences in clinical manifestation between two groups. Many drugs could induce liver injury. The most common drugs inducing DILD were Chinese traditional and herbal drugs, accounting for 47.9%. Drugs used in heart diseases and inducing liver injury were more common in the older group. In this study, 40 (75.5%), 5 (9.4%) and 8 (15.1%) cases were designated as hepatocellular, cholestetic and mixed DILD in the older group, and 91 (78.9%), 8 (7.4%) and 15 (13.7%) in middle-youth age group, respectively. There were no significance differences between two groups in classifications. Conclusions Many drugs could cause liver injury. The symptoms of acute DILD are nonspecific. Drugs used in heart diseases and inducing liver injury are more common in older patients.