Prevalence of Over-the-Counter and Prescription Medication Use in the US

What is the current prevalence of over-the-counter (OTC) and prescription medication use in the US?In this survey study of 21 000 US adults, 62.3% reported past-7-day use of any OTC or prescription medication. Past-7-day prevalence of any OTC medication use (46.0%) was similar to that of any prescription medication use (46.3%) and illustrated a similar pattern of increased use with age among both male and female individuals.The high prevalence of OTC and prescription medication use highlights the reliance on these products, aids in regulatory decision-making, contributes to pharmacoeconomic evaluations, and informs measures of benefits and risks.

Corresponding Author: Jody L. Green, PhD, Uprise Health, Two Park Plaza, Ste 1200, Irvine, CA 92614 (jody.green@uprisehealth.com).

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