In 2007-2010, 10% of Americans reported taking five or more prescription drugs in the past 30 days, up from 4% in 1988-1994, the National Center for Health Statistics said in its "Health, United States, 2013" report released May 14.
By 2007-2010, close to half of all Americans (47%) reported that they had taken at least one prescription drug in the past month, compared with 40% in 1988-1994, according to the NCHS.
Drug use was greater among older age groups, with 40% of those aged 65 years and over and 17% of those aged 45-64 years taking five or more drugs in the past 30 days, compared with 3% of those aged 18-44 years and 1% of those under age 18, the report said.
The analysis of prescription drug use is based on data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
