Therapeutic Drug Use
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Data are for the U.S.
Prescription drug use
- Percent of persons using at least one prescription drug in the past 30 days: 48.9% (2011-2014)
- Percent of persons using three or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days: 23.1% (2011-2014)
- Percent of persons using five or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days: 11.9% (2011-2014)
Physician office visits
- Number of drugs ordered or provided: 3.2 billion
- Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 75.2%
- Most frequently prescribed therapeutic classes:
- Analgesics
- Antihyperlipidemic agents
- Antidepressants
Source: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2014 State and National Summary Tables, tables 24, 25, 26[PDF – 613 KB]
Hospital outpatient department visits
- Number of drugs ordered or provided: 329.2 million
- Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 72.5%
- Most frequently prescribed therapeutic classes
- Analgesics
- Antidiabetic agents
- Antihyperlipidemic agents
Source: National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2011 Outpatient Department Summary Tables, tables 18, 19, 20[PDF – 330 KB]
Hospital emergency department visits
- Number of drugs ordered or provided: 317.6 million
- Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 79.6%
- Most frequently prescribed therapeutic classes
- Analgesics
- Antiemetic or antivertigo agents
- Minerals and electrolytes
Source: National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2014 Emergency Department Summary Tables, tables 21, 22, 23[PDF – 1.3 MB]
More Data
- Drug-poisoning Deaths Involving Opioid Analgesics: United States, 1999–2011
- Emergency Department Visits for Drug Poisoning: United States, 2008-2011
- Prescription Cholesterol-lowering Medication Use in Adults Aged 40 and Over: United States, 2003–2012
- Prescription Opioid Analgesic Use Among Adults: United States, 1999–2012
- Prescription Sleep Aid Use Among Adults: United States, 2005–2010
- Psychotropic Medication Use Among Adolescents: United States, 2005–2010
- Selected prescription drug classes used in the past 30 days, by sex and age Health, United States, 2016, table 80[PDF – 9.8 MB]
- Strategies Used by Adults to Reduce Their Prescription Drug Costs: United States, 2013
- Trends in Drug Poisoning Deaths Involving Opioid Analgesics and Heroin, United States, 1999-2012
- Use of Medication Prescribed for Emotional or Behavioral Difficulties Among Children Aged 6–17 Years in the United States, 2011–2012
- Page last reviewed: January 19, 2017
- Page last updated: May 3, 2017
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