Posted on 03/04/2026 6:39:40 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Americans are popping pills at a rate that might surprise even their doctors—and most of what they’re taking, they chose themselves.
Nearly two-thirds of U.S. adults take at least one pill each week, and one in six takes five or more, according to a recent study published in JAMA, highlighting how central medications—both over-the-counter and prescription—are to everyday health.
Researchers surveyed 21,000 volunteers aged 18 and older between 2023 and 2024 to discover the most common drugs Americans are taking.
The top 10 drugs identified by researchers provide a snapshot of the most common health concerns among Americans.
According to the study data, the four drugs occupying the top spots are acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen, all of which are over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs that help to treat fevers and moderate pain.
Among prescription drugs, atorvastatin (used to lower cholesterol), lisinopril (for blood pressure), and levothyroxine (for thyroid conditions) were the most frequently reported.
Less common over-the-counter drugs include diphenhydramine, most familiar as Benadryl, an antihistamine used to treat fevers and allergies, and omeprazole, a drug for acid reflux, which ranks ninth among over-the-counter drugs.
Women were more likely to report medication use than men—67 percent versus 57 percent.
Women also showed higher use of levothyroxine (thyroid replacement) and anti-histamines, while men more commonly reported taking atorvastatin (lowers cholesterol) and metformin, used to treat Type 2 diabetes.
Participants were asked to recall their medication use over the previous seven days, aided by sample labels and prompts about common ailments and medical history to improve recall accuracy. Researchers categorized medications by active ingredients and excluded herbal supplements and topical treatments.
The findings arrive with a warning that experts say too few patients hear: Over-the-counter does not mean risk-free.
Researchers found that medication use could swiftly add up, with one in six adults reporting they took five or more medications in the past week, and 3.3 percent saying they took 10 or more.
“Many people don’t realize these drugs can interact with their prescriptions or add to side effects, especially older adults taking multiple medications,” Reshma Patel, pharmacist and Dallas-based founder of WiseMedRx, where she partners with families to review patients’ medications and identify unnecessary or high-risk drugs, and not involved in the survey, told The Epoch Times.
Daily pain relievers, for example, can affect the kidneys or stomach when combined with other meds, she noted. The bigger issue, she added, isn’t one single drug; it’s that medications are often started and never reassessed. “Over time, these cumulative effects can become serious.”
Tawna L. Mangosh, assistant professor in the Department of Pharmacology and director of the of the Translational Pharmaceutical Science Program, at Case Western Reserve University Medical School, and not involved in the survey, flagged pain and fever medications, which contain acetaminophen, ibuprofen, aspirin, and naproxen, as the over-the-counter (OTC) category of greatest concern, given how frequently they appear in combination cold and flu products. These include sleep aids, cough suppressants, decongestants, laxatives, and proton pump inhibitors.
“Many are combination products with multiple active ingredients,” she told The Epoch Times. “These medications carry risks and are not appropriate for every patient, especially those with certain underlying conditions. That’s why education around OTC products is so critical.”
Both experts stopped short of calling for tighter restrictions. The answer, Patel argued, lies in better systems, not fewer options.
“The solution isn’t to limit access, it’s about smarter use,” Patel said, emphasizing that pharmacists should play a bigger role at the point of sale, and helping patients spot potential interactions. “Clearer labeling, better public education, and routine medication reviews for anyone on multiple therapies can go a long way toward keeping people safe,” she said.
Mangosh agreed, urging patients to read labels carefully. “As use remains high, this reinforces the importance of ensuring patients understand both the benefits and the risks of what they are taking,” she said. “That includes carefully reading medication labels, paying attention to active ingredients, dosing instructions, and warnings, and knowing when to seek additional medical care.”
The study observed distinct shifts in drug use patterns compared to data from the late 1990s.
While the top three medications—acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and aspirin—have held their top positions consistently, pseudoephedrine, once widely used for nasal congestion, saw a marked decline in use after regulatory restrictions in 2005 placed it behind the pharmacy counter and limited purchase quantities.
Meanwhile, loratadine (an antihistamine) and omeprazole (for acid reflux) increased in use after regulatory decisions made these drugs available over the counter, reflecting how regulatory decisions can rapidly reshape what Americans reach for.
The researchers highlight that this widespread medication use emphasizes the importance of ensuring access while balancing safety.
They noted that increasing drug accessibility could potentially lower health care costs—since prescription medications often require doctor visits and higher expenses—but also raised concerns about misuse or adverse effects.
I’m on 10 meds and am confident I would not be here otherwise. I joke it is living better through chemistry. It is gallows humor. The good news is I feel well and most say I look much younger than 80.
I’m on 10 meds and am confident I would not be here otherwise. I joke it is living better through chemistry. It is gallows humor. The good news is I feel well and most say I look much younger than 80.
I need to catch up....I take about one aspirin every 9 years and nothing else
Hmmmm...I have bad vertigo and assumed it was because of my inner ear and sinus issues, BUT I also take Lisinopril. A question for my doc when I go in a couple of weeks...thanks! I also take meclizine for it. Cheap and effective. I’ve been using a rebounder for 3 weeks and my vertigo is significantly better as well as my general well being has improved.
I take lisinopril, levothyroxine, gemfibrozil, baby aspirin, and once a week alendronate. I’m 71.
Omeprazole and its like also reduce absorption of good things that your body should be getting. Long term use is not recommended. Some side effects: low iron, low magnesium, low B12 levels.
I second the use of apple cider vinegar. Sounds counterintuitive but it works.
Prescription drugs are way over prescribed to the point it should be criminal. 3 out of 4 ads on TV are pushing drugs for everything and we wonder why there’s a drug problem.
Wife and I are in our 70s and not one prescription drug between us. I’ll do 400mg of ibuprofen every couple of weeks for aches and pains and I don’t like doing that.
Had a bad knee issue, swelled up, wouldn’t bend after a bad twist. Went to the ER, they said I’d would need knee surgery, put an immobilizer on and tried to give me some opioids. I refused and had to sign a refusal document saying I wouldn’t take them...that is unbelievable . Never had the surgery either...Itworked itself out and back to normal.
#1 Media Nausea-Inducer
#2 Politician Nausea-Inducer
Interesting that the protein spike that showed up with CoVID is never mentioned. It’s a nano-particle from altered DNA of other victims who shed it thru eyes, mouth, nose, ears, skin flakes ... even if you never showed CoVID symptoms, you can get it. And pass it on. Unvaccinated or vaccinated.
Get a knee brace. It really helps as you get older.
Sounds great to me.
Not too long ago Michael Savage said at his doctor’s visit the associate in his office looked at him oddly when she saw that he did not take any daily medication. He thought she and the doctor were thinking: “Hey, what’s the matter with you, why aren’t you taking stuff every day like we are?”
Sadly he had a heart attack later on but survived, Thanks Be To God.
I took Omeprazole since 2003, and went cold turkey in 2024. I changed my diet and avoided things that triggered heartburn. It took 2 years, now I just live with the ocassional discomfort. Usually caused by eating late and going to bed. Vinegar does work, as does chewing on a Tums, which I avoid because of the heaviness it induces in the stoolage section.. You have to be tough to get old.........
I used to have severe back pain and would take Naproxen. After a while, my doctor said that an implanted stimulator would help. I had the surgery and my back pain is essentially gone.
Big Pharma sells sickness very well.
I take three of the ten
I have nothing but praise for levothyroxine that controls my thyroid problem. The pill makes the constant haze vanish. Lethargy is diminished
I’d rather have acid reflux than eat bananas, which I’ve detested from birth.
Not if it was coming up out of your nose too. Uncontrolled acid reflux can lead to cancer.
I just started to “need” atorvastatin and I’m 89. Years ago I gave up wheat, and cholesterol immediately went down. This year, in hospital with yuk Vertigo, the dietician looked at blood test and told me my cholesterol was high and now I’m on that drug.
Why no wheat? Book, “Wheat Belly” by Wm. Davis MD proved that wheat raises cholesterol. So I gave it up and never missed it after finding BFree seed bread at nearby health store. Cholesterol was fine for awhile but dietician said wheat effect doesn’t last forever, thus the new drug.
I HATE taking any pharmaceuticals, been a health nut half of my long life and my list of vitamins and OK-to-eat foods, mostly organic, would shock you. Tossed salt shaker years ago, etc etc. Weigh 112. Looking forward to warmer dryer weatheer so I can get back to long walks, so great for the heart.
Didn’t RFK Jr say that Ibuprofen is seriouosly bad for you? I threw mine away and never missed it.
"Looking forward to warmer dryer weather so I can get back to long walks, so great for the heart."
Here's hoping we can all have some decent weather again.
Have you had physical therapy for that inner ear problem? I changed insurance this year to United, which covers it. My MD just sent a referral local wonderful PT place. Your MD might know a place where you could access that close to your home.
Talk, talk, talk...I need to make an appointment. .
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