Therapeutic Drug Use
Updated: Sep 26, 2022
(Data are for the U.S.)
Percentofpersonsusingatleastoneprescriptiondruginthepastmonth:48%(2005-2008)
Source:Health,UnitedStates,2009,table95(/nchs/data/hus/hus2009tables/Table095.pdf)
Physician office visits
Numberofdrugsorderedorprovided:2.3 billion
Percentofvisitsinvolvingdrugtherapy:73%
Most frequently prescribed therapeutic
◦ Analgesics
◦ Antidepressants
◦ Antihyperlipidemic agents
Source: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2007 Summary, tables22, 23, 24 (/nchs/data/nhsr
/nhsr027.pdf)
Hospital outpatient department visits
Number of drugs ordered or provided: 224.9 million
Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 73%
Most frequently prescribed therapeutic classes
◦ Analgesics
◦ Antidepressants
◦ Antihyperlipidemic agents
Source: National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2007 Outpatient Department Summary, tables 20, 21 (/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr028.pdf)
Hospital emergency department visits
Number of drugs ordered or provided: 213.4 million
Percent of visits involving drug therapy: 76%
Most frequently prescribed therapeutic classes
◦ Analgesics
◦ Antiemetic or antivertigo agents
◦ Antihistamines
Source: National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2007 Emergency Department Summary, table 17, 18, 19 (/nchs/data/nhsr/nhsr026.pdf)
More Data
Prescription Drug Use Continuesto Increase: U.S. Prescription Drug Data for 2007-2008 (/nchs/data/databriefs/db42.pdf)
Search Tables for Drug Use in Health Data Interactive (/nchs/hdi.htm)
Selected prescription and nonprescription drugs recorded during physician office and hospitaloutpatient department visitsby age and sex Health, United States, 2009, table 94 (/nchs/data/hus/hus09.pdf#094)
Related Links
Ambulatory Health Care Data (/nchs/ahcd.htm)
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (/nchs/nhanes.htm)
Food and Drug Administration (http://www.fda.gov)
National Intitutes of Health (http://www.nih.gov)