Immer mehr US-Amerikaner nehmen täglich mehrere verschreibungspflichtige Medikamente zu sich. Dabei nimmt die Mehrfachmedikamentation mit steigendem Alter zu:
| Prozentsatz der US-Amerikaner, der verschreibungspflichtige Medikamente einnimmt | | # Medikamente | >= 18 Jahre | >= 65 Jahre | | >= 1 | 44% | 84% | | >= 3 | 17% | 48% | | >= 5 | 7% | N/A |
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Besonders häufig werden täglich mehrere verschreibungspflichtige Medikamente bei psychischen Störungen wie z. B. Depressionen eingenommen, da diese häufig von anderen Krankheiten begleitet werden (sog. Komorbiditäten).
Die folgende Abbildung zeigt, wie häufig Depressionen zusammen mit anderen Erkrankungen auftreten:
Abstract:
According to the annual report, "Health, United States, 2004," prescription drug use is rising among people of all ages, and increases with age (National Center for Health Statistics, 2004). Almost half of those over 18 in the United States are taking at least one prescription medicine, and one in six is taking three or more. These percentages are substantially higher for Americans 65 or older (Table).
The reason is, at least in part, the increasing ability to treat and even prevent chronic illnesses. As a result, patients accumulate drugs as they age and are on them for years, during which time other drugs can be added and stopped. Prescription drug use is on the rise, and there are an increasing number of medications available for the chronic treatment of hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, the three leading causes of death in United States (National Center for Health Statistics, 2004).
The National Center for Health Statistics (2004) reported a number of data regarding the increasing incidence of polypharmacy. Among its findings: The use of multiple psychoactive drugs is an increasingly common practice in both primary care and psychiatric practice; the use of antidepressants in the U.S. adult population almost tripled between 1988 to 1994 and 1999 to 2000; 10% of women age 18 or older and 4% of men now take antidepressants; three times as many white adults in the United States took antidepressants as did blacks or Mexican Americans in the most recent year for which data are available. There is also an increased use of specific psychoactive medications in younger patients, and use is also increasing among younger patients including psychoactive medication for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and antidepressants (National Center for Health Statistics, 2004).
Weitere Infos finden sich hier.
Anmerkung von migraeneinformation.de:
Sofern in Deutschland noch nicht ähnlich Verhältnisse vorliegen, so werden diese sich sicherlich in wenigen Jahren einstellen.
Zu beachten ist, dass mit jedem zusätzlichen verschreibungspflichtigen Medikament auch die Wechselwirkungen zwischen den verschiedenen Wirkstoffen immer komplexer werden.
