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Epidemiology of Over-the-Counter Drug Use in Community Dwelling Elderly

United States Perspective

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Abstract

Among US community dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years, about as many persons take nonprescription drugs as take prescription drugs. A review of US data from the last 2 decades indicates that the average number of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs taken daily is around 1.8, but varies with geographical area (highest in the Midwest) and race/ethnicity (lowest use among Hispanics, followed by African Americans, and highest use among Whites). Use has consistently been found to be higher in women than in men. While OTC use appears to be increasing over time, it also decreases with increase in age. The most common OTC classes used are analgesics, laxatives and nutritional supplements. Our ability to explain or to predict OTC use and change in use is poor, and further studies, particularly on use by elderly individuals of minority races, are needed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Brenda Davis and Kay Fox for their help in preparing the manuscript. Financial support was provided by grants from the National Institute on Aging (R01-AG-15432 — Drs Hanlon, Fillenbaum and Ruby and R01-AG-14158 — Drs Hanlon and Ruby, R37-AG-08937 — Dr Fillenbaum, and K08-AG-00808 — Dr Gray) and the VFW Endowed Chair in Geriatric Pharmacotherapy, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota (Dr Hanlon).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pharmacy, Institute for the Study of Geriatric Pharmacotherapy and Department of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    Joseph T. Hanlon

  2. School of Public Health, Division of Health Services Research and Policy, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    Joseph T. Hanlon

  3. Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA

    Joseph T. Hanlon

  4. Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    Gerda G. Fillenbaum & Christine M. Ruby

  5. Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, and Medicine, Division of Geriatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    Gerda G. Fillenbaum & Christine M. Ruby

  6. Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA

    Christine M. Ruby

  7. School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

    Christine M. Ruby

  8. School of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Shelly Gray

  9. Pharmaceutical Branch, Proctor and Gamble, Mason, Ohio, USA

    Arline Bohannon

Authors
  1. Joseph T. Hanlon
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  2. Gerda G. Fillenbaum
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  3. Christine M. Ruby
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  4. Shelly Gray
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  5. Arline Bohannon
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Correspondence to Joseph T. Hanlon.

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Hanlon, J.T., Fillenbaum, G.G., Ruby, C.M. et al. Epidemiology of Over-the-Counter Drug Use in Community Dwelling Elderly. Drugs & Aging 18, 123–131 (2001). https://doi.org/10.2165/00002512-200118020-00005

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