Table 7. Trends in Prevalence of Prescription Medication Use in the Prior 30 Days Among Adolescents Aged 12 to 19 Years, by Therapeutic Class: United States, 1999-2014a.
| Therapeutic Class | Prevalence, % (95% CI) | β (95% CI)b | P Value for Trendb | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999-2002 (n = 4900) |
2003-2006 (n = 4587) |
2007-2010 (n = 2574) |
2011-2014 (n = 2704) |
|||
| ADHD medications | 3.2 (2.2 to 4.5) | 3.7 (2.8 to 4.9) | 5.3 (3.8 to 7.1) | 3.8 (2.7 to 5.2) | 0.12 (−0.10 to 0.34) | .29 |
| Antiadrenergic agents, centrally acting | 0.1 (0.0 to 0.4)c,d | 0.2 (0.1 to 0.5)d,e | 0.6 (0.2 to 1.4)e | 0.9 (0.5 to 1.4) | 0.13 (0.06 to 0.20) | <.001 |
| CNS stimulants | 3.1 (2.1 to 4.4) | 3.1 (2.4 to 4.1) | 4.9 (3.4 to 6.8) | 3.2 (2.2 to 4.5) | 0.06 (−0.16 to 0.28) | .60 |
| Amphetamines | 1.4 (0.8 to 2.1) | 1.3 (0.7 to 2.0) | 2.7 (1.6 to 4.3) | 1.6 (0.9 to 2.6) | 0.10 (−0.05 to 0.25) | .18 |
| Methylphenidate or dexmethylphenidate | 1.7 (1.2 to 2.4) | 1.9 (1.3 to 2.6) | 2.2 (1.4 to 3.3) | 1.7 (1.0 to 2.6) | −0.02 (−0.15 to 0.11) | .75 |
| SNRI (atomoxetine) | NAf | 0.5 (0.2 to 1.0)g | 0.4 (0.2 to 0.7)g | 0.5 (0.1 to 1.3)c,d | NAf | NAf |
| Antibiotics | 8.2 (7.0 to 9.5) | 7.5 (6.1 to 9.1) | 5.0 (3.6 to 6.6) | 4.5 (3.0 to 6.6) | −0.67 (−0.97 to −0.38) | <.001 |
| Amoxicillin | 2.2 (1.5 to 3.1) | 1.5 (1.1 to 2.0) | 1.2 (0.5 to 2.3)g | 1.2 (0.6 to 2.0) | −0.15 (−0.29 to 0.00) | .05 |
| Cephalosporins | 1.2 (0.8 to 1.7) | 1.1 (0.6 to 1.8) | 0.8 (0.3 to 1.5)g | 0.4 (0.1 to 0.9)d,e | −0.14 (−0.24 to −0.05) | .004 |
| Macrolides | 1.3 (0.9 to 1.8) | 1.0 (0.5 to 1.9)g | 0.5 (0.2 to 1.1)e | 0.9 (0.4 to 1.8)g | −0.09 (−0.19 to 0.01) | .09 |
| Azithromycin | 0.5 (0.3 to 0.9) | 0.8 (0.3 to 1.6)g | 0.4 (0.1 to 1.0)c,d | 0.8 (0.3 to 1.7)g | 0.01 (−0.08 to 0.10) | .83 |
| Tetracyclines | 1.8 (1.2 to 2.5) | 2.0 (1.3 to 3.0) | 1.4 (0.8 to 2.3) | 1.4 (0.7 to 2.6)g | −0.10 (−0.25 to 0.05) | .20 |
| Anticonvulsants | 1.4 (0.9 to 2.1) | 0.9 (0.5 to 1.4) | 1.1 (0.5 to 2.0)g | 1.2 (0.6 to 2.0) | −0.03 (−0.17 to 0.11) | .70 |
| Antidepressants | 3.9 (3.0 to 5.0) | 3.1 (2.3 to 4.2) | 3.3 (2.1 to 4.8) | 3.4 (2.2 to 5.0) | −0.09 (−0.31 to 0.14) | .46 |
| SSRIs | 2.9 (2.2 to 3.8) | 2.5 (1.7 to 3.5) | 2.5 (1.6 to 3.8) | 2.0 (1.3 to 3.2) | −0.14 (−0.31 to 0.02) | .09 |
| Antidiabetic agents | 0.5 (0.2 to 1.0)g | 0.4 (0.2 to 0.8)g | 0.6 (0.3 to 1.0) | 0.9 (0.4 to 1.7)g | 0.07 (−0.03 to 0.17) | .18 |
| Antihistamines | 5.1 (4.2 to 6.0) | 3.4 (2.6 to 4.3) | 2.0 (1.3 to 2.9) | 1.5 (0.9 to 2.3) | −0.57 (−0.74 to −0.40) | <.001 |
| Antihypertensive agents | 0.2 (0.0 to 0.4)d,e | 0.4 (0.2 to 0.9)g | 0.5 (0.2 to 1.0)g | 0.8 (0.3 to 1.7)g | 0.10 (0.00 to 0.19) | .04 |
| Antipsychotics | 0.7 (0.4 to 1.1) | 1.0 (0.7 to 1.6) | 0.8 (0.4 to 1.5) | 0.7 (0.4 to 1.1) | 0.00 (−0.07 to 0.08) | .95 |
| Anxiolytics, sedatives, and hypnotics | 0.6 (0.4 to 0.8) | 0.5 (0.2 to 0.8) | 0.5 (0.2 to 1.0)g | 0.7 (0.4 to 1.1) | 0.01 (−0.05 to 0.07) | .82 |
| Asthma medications | 4.0 (3.1 to 5.1) | 5.4 (4.7 to 6.3) | 5.7 (4.5 to 7.2) | 6.0 (4.9 to 7.2) | 0.25 (0.04 to 0.47) | .02 |
| Bronchodilators | 3.7 (2.9 to 4.8) | 4.6 (3.9 to 5.4) | 5.3 (4.1 to 6.7) | 4.5 (3.5 to 5.7) | 0.09 (−0.11 to 0.28) | .40 |
| Albuterol | 3.4 (2.6 to 4.4) | 3.9 (3.3 to 4.5) | 4.4 (3.5 to 5.5) | 4.1 (3.2 to 5.2) | 0.08 (−0.11 to 0.27) | .42 |
| Inhaled corticosteroids | 0.9 (0.6 to 1.4) | 0.5 (0.3 to 0.8) | 0.5 (0.2 to 1.2)g | 1.2 (0.8 to 1.8) | 0.04 (−0.04 to 0.12) | .36 |
| Montelukast | 0.6 (0.3 to 1.1) | 1.5 (1.1 to 2.0) | 1.3 (0.7 to 2.2) | 1.9 (1.2 to 2.8) | 0.17 (0.05 to 0.29) | .005 |
| Contraceptivesh | 4.6 (3.2 to 6.4) | 6.2 (4.4 to 8.4) | 7.4 (5.1 to 10.1) | 8.8 (6.9 to 11.1) | 0.63 (0.27 to 0.99) | <.001 |
| Glucocorticoids | 0.6 (0.2 to 1.1)g | 0.5 (0.3 to 0.8) | 1.2 (0.6 to 2.0) | 0.6 (0.3 to 1.3)g | 0.03 (−0.05 to 0.12) | .46 |
| Narcotic-containing analgesics | 2.0 (1.1 to 3.4) | 1.5 (0.9 to 2.2) | 1.5 (1.0 to 2.1) | 1.2 (0.7 to 1.9) | −0.10 (−0.25 to 0.06) | .23 |
| Proton pump inhibitors | 0.4 (0.2 to 0.7) | 0.7 (0.3 to 1.4)g | 0.9 (0.5 to 1.6) | 0.9 (0.5 to 1.7) | 0.10 (0.00 to 0.19) | .04 |
| Topical agents | 3.7 (3.0 to 4.5) | 4.3 (3.3 to 5.5) | 3.5 (2.6 to 4.6) | 3.9 (3.1 to 5.0) | 0.00 (−0.18 to 0.17) | .98 |
| Dermatological agents | 2.0 (1.5 to 2.7) | 2.1 (1.4 to 3.1) | 1.4 (0.9 to 2.1) | 1.7 (1.0 to 2.6) | −0.08 (−0.23 to 0.06) | .26 |
| Topical acne agents | 1.4 (1.0 to 1.9) | 1.1 (0.5 to 1.9) | 0.8 (0.4 to 1.3) | 1.0 (0.4 to 2.1)g | −0.06 (−0.20 to 0.07) | .35 |
| Nasal steroids | 1.2 (0.7 to 1.8) | 1.8 (1.3 to 2.4) | 1.6 (0.9 to 2.6) | 1.9 (1.1 to 3.0) | 0.08 (−0.08 to 0.23) | .34 |
| Upper respiratory combination medications | 2.0 (1.3 to 3.0) | 1.5 (1.0 to 2.2) | 1.0 (0.5 to 1.7) | 0.3 (0.1 to 0.7). | −0.26 (−0.37 to −0.14) | <.001 |
Abbreviations: ADHD, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder; CNS, central nervous system; NA, not available; SNRI, selective norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor; SSRI, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.
Source: National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2014. Prevalence estimates are weighted to account for differential probabilities of selection and survey nonresponse. Individual prescription medications or therapeutic subclasses presented in this table were reported by at least 10 adolescents during at least 2 of the 4-y periods.
The estimate (β), 95% CI, and P value were calculated using linear regression models that included the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2-y cycle as a continuous variable. The estimate (β) can be interpreted as the average percentage point change in prevalence every 2 y.
Estimate may be unreliable because of relative standard error greater than 50%.
Estimate may be unreliable because of unweighted number less than 10.
Estimate may be unreliable because of relative standard error greater than 40% but less than 50%.
Atomoxetine was approved in 2002. Prevalence in 1999-2002, β, and P value for trend over 1999-2014 could not be calculated.
Estimate may be unreliable because of relative standard error greater than 30% but less than 40%.
Limited to girls only.