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MEDICATION USE
In 2000, medication use was reported
during 66.1 percent of the 823.5 million visits to physician
offices in the U.S.
Medication use includes all new or continued prescription
and non-prescription medications ordered, supplied, or
administered. Types of medication use most frequently reported
for females
reflected their most common diagnoses (excluding pregnancy)
of hypertension, acute upper respiratory infections, and
diabetes mellitus. Overall, higher rates of medication use
were reported for females (156.4 drugs per 100 visits)
than males (149.1 drugs
per 100 visits). Cardiovascular-renal drugs were the most
frequently reported medications used by both sexes, however,
males had slightly higher rates of use (26.4 compared to
21.2 drugs per 100 visits).
Medication use varied among
females by type of medication and age. Rates of use for
cardiovascular-renal drugs increased
considerably with age, with women aged 75 and older having
the highest rate (60.1 drugs per 100 visits). Pain relief
medication use also increased with age, with women aged
65 and older having the highest rates of use. Hormone
therapy was the most frequently reported medication used
by women
aged 45-64 and the second most frequently reported medication
used by women aged 65 and older, after cardiovascular-renal
drugs. Use of central nervous system drugs, including
sedatives, antidepressants, and anti-anxiety agents, peaked
among
women
aged 45-64, while respiratory tract drugs had the highest
rate of use among females aged 15 years and younger.
The
five most frequently reported medications used by females
according to therapeutic classification were Premarin (hormone
replacement therapy), Synthroid (for the treatment of thyroid
disease), Claritin (for allergy relief), Celebrex (for
arthritis pain relief), and Lipitor (for lowering cholesterol).
The
top five genericsubstances taken by women were acetaminophen,
amoxicillin,albuterol, aspirin, and calcium.
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