Therapeutic
Drug Use
(Data are for U.S. for year indicated)
Percent
of persons using at least one prescription drug in the past month: 45
(1999-2002)
Source:
Health, United States, 2007, Table 96
Physician office visits
Number
of drugs ordered or provided: 2.0 billion
Percent
of visits involving drug therapy:
71
Average
number
of drugs ordered or provided per visit: 2.1
Most frequently prescribed
therapeutic class: Antidepressants
Source: National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2005 Summary, Tables
24, 26
Hospital outpatient department visits
Number of
drugs ordered or provided: 247.7 million
Percent of visits involving drug
therapy: 75
Number of drugs ordered or
provided per visit: 3.2
Most frequently prescribed
therapeutic class: analgesics
Source: National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2006 Outpatient Department Summary, Tables 19, 20, 21
Hospital emergency department visits
Number of drugs ordered or provided:
212.1 million
Percent of visits involving drug
therapy: 91.3
Number of drugs ordered or provided
per visit: 1.8
Most
frequently prescribed therapeutic class: analgesics
Source: National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey: 2006 Emergency Department Summary, Table
18, 19, 20
More
Data
Selected prescription and
nonprescription drugs recorded during physician office and hospital
outpatient department visits by age and sex: 1995-96 and 2003-05
Source:
Health, United States, 2007, Table 95
Related
Links
National
Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
National
Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey
Food
and Drug Administration
National
Institutes of Health
This page last reviewed
September 13, 2008