Mayo: 7 Of 10 Americans On At Least One Prescription
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Mayo Clinic study suggests that more Americans are currently taking prescription drugs than not.
The results say that about 7 of 10 Americans are currently taking at least one prescription medication, and over 50 percent are on two different prescriptions.
Furthermore, the study says that 1 in 5 Americans are currently taking five or more prescription drugs.
The study was just published online in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings journal.
The Mayo Clinic says the second most common prescription drug category right now is antidepressants, just after antibiotics.
"That suggests mental health is a huge issue and is something we should focus on," Dr. Jennifer St. Sauver, a member of the Mayo Clinic Population Health Program, said. "Often when people talk about health conditions they're talking about chronic conditions such as heart disease or diabetes."
Other drugs that the Mayo Clinic said are most commonly used are opioids, blood pressure meds, and vaccines.
The study concluded that women and older adults receive more prescriptions than other groups.
"As you get older you tend to get more prescriptions, and women tend to get more prescriptions than men," St. Sauver said.
Women are more commonly prescribed antidepressants than men, the Mayo Clinic said.
