Prevalence of Over-the-Counter and Prescription Medication Use in the US

In this 2023 to 2024 study, nearly 2 of 3 US adults reported medication use in the past 7 days. Past-7-day prevalence of OTC and prescription medication use was similar, demonstrating the reliance on these therapies and highlighting the importance of accessibility. Medication-specific prevalence allows for a better understanding of actual use and the ability to estimate potential benefits and risks associated with medication access or regulatory changes. Continued monitoring is necessary to measure the benefits and risks of regulatory decisions or other market changes that may affect medication access or use.