Objective To investigate the efficacy and side effects of metronomic chemotherapy of gemcitabine, dexamethasone and cisplatin (GDP) for elderly relapsed and refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL). Methods Eighteen elderly patients with identified relapsed and refractory NHL admitted in our institute from January 2012 to January 2015 were enrolled in this study. They were all treated by GDP metronomic chemotherapy. Clinical efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated. Results For the patients with B-cell NHL, there were 3 cases obtaining complete remission (CR), and 2 cases of partial remission (PR), and for those with T cell NHL, there were 3 cases of CR and 1 case of PR. The total effective rate of the cohort was 50%, and no treatment-related deaths were found during follow-up. According to the evaluation criteria for chemotherapy toxicity established by WHO, the major adverse reactions were mainly concentrated in 0 ?Ⅰ degree, no Ⅳ degree was seen, and the liver and kidney toxicity was mild. The main side effects were myelosuppression as well as gastrointestinal reactions. No obvious neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity occurred. Conclusion GDP metronomic chemotherapy is effective in the treatment of elderly relapsed and refractory NHL, which has a lower incidence of side effects and worthy of further promotion.