Congratulations, Big Pharma, it looks like you’re winning the healthcare game. A new report shows that 70 percent of Americans are on prescription drugs. And while more than 50 percent of us take two drugs, 20 percent of us are on five or more prescriptions.
The leading prescriptions, according to a study at the Mayo Clinic, are antibiotics, antidepressants and painkilling opioids.
“Often when people talk about health conditions they’re talking about chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes,” says researcher Jennifer St. Sauver. “However, the second most common prescription was for antidepressants — that suggests mental health is a huge issue and is something we should focus on. And the third most common drugs were opioids, which is a bit concerning considering their addicting nature.”
Seventeen percent of the people studied are taking prescribed antibiotics, 13 percent are taking antidepressants and 13 percent are on opioids. Drugs to control high blood pressure came in fourth (11 percent) and vaccines were in fifth place (10 percent). Drugs are prescribed to both men and women across all age groups, except high blood pressure drugs, which are seldom taken before age 30.
Overall, women and older adults receive more prescriptions. Vaccines, antibiotics and anti-asthma drugs are most commonly prescribed in people younger than 19. Antidepressants and opioids are most common among young and middle-aged adults. Cardiovascular drugs are most commonly prescribed in older adults. Women receive more prescriptions than men across several drug groups, especially antidepressants: Nearly one in four women ages 50-64 are on an antidepressant.
“As you get older you tend to get more prescriptions, and women tend to get more prescriptions than men,” St. Sauver says.
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