• About
  • Masthead
  • License Content
  • Advertise
  • Submit Press Release
  • RSS/Email List
  • Write for us
  • Contact us
2 Minute Medicine
No Result
View All Result

No products in the cart.

SUBSCRIBE
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
2 Minute Medicine
  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • AccountLog-in/out
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account
SUBSCRIBE
2 Minute Medicine
Subscribe
Home All Specialties Chronic Disease

Decrease in medication use among US children and adolescents

byQasim HussainiandDaniel Fisher
May 21, 2018
in Chronic Disease, Infectious Disease, Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Public Health, Pulmonology
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

1. While overall prescribing of medications decreased compared to the early 2000s, the use of ADHD medication, asthma medicine, and contraceptive use increased while use of antibiotics, antihistamines, and upper respiratory combination medications decreased.

2. Most commonly used medication classes include asthma medications, antibiotics, ADHD medications, topical agents, and antihistamines.     

Evidence Rating Level: 2 (Good)

Study Rundown: Evaluating trends in medication use among children and adolescents provides useful information to determine the degree of stewardship of certain medications, such as antibiotics and opioids, and how  adoption of clinical guidelines leads to changes in prescription behavior by providers. The current cross-sectional study evaluated trends in prescription medicine use overall and by common therapeutic classes among US children and adolescents from 1999 to 2014. Comparing prescribing trends to 1999-2002, use of prescription medicine in the prior month decreased significantly from 2011-2014. The most commonly used medication classes were asthma medications, antibiotics, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) medications, topical agents, and antihistamines. Use of asthma, ADHD, and contraceptives increased, and use of antibiotics, antihistamines, and upper respiratory combination medications decreased. Further, while medication use varied by age, race and Hispanic origin, insurance status, and current health status, it did not differ by sex, household income, or education level of the household head.

Overall, the study shows divergent patterns in prescription medication use among adolescents, with some classes showing increased use and others showing decreased use. The study does not include information on dosages, formulations, and frequency of use. Future studies may also evaluate the use of over-the-counter medications that was not included in this study.

Click to read the study, published in JAMA

Relevant Reading: Antibiotic Use in Children – A Cross-National Analysis of 6 Countries

RELATED REPORTS

BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine safe and efficacious in young children

Impact of COVID-19 on pediatric asthma-related healthcare utilization in New York City

High-protein supplementation improves linear growth in infants

In-Depth [cross-sectional]: The current study is cross-sectional and based on data obtained through the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) that has been conducted continuously in 2-year cycles since 1999. Home face-to-face interviews were conducted throughout each year, and medication names were recorded and matched to a brand or generic name and converted to a standard drug name. Linear trends in medication use were evaluated from 1999 to 2014 by age, sex, and race and Hispanic origin. New therapeutic classes of medications were created including antibiotics, asthma medication, ADHD medications, anti-hypertensive medicines, and narcotic-containing analgesics. Use of prescription medication use by age group was examined as well.

Overall, data was available on 38,277 children and adolescents. Mean age was 10 years and 49% were girls. Overall, prescription medication decreased over the last 30 days between 1999-2002 and 2011-2014 (24.6% to 21.9%). The most commonly used medication during the 2011-2014 period were asthma medications (6.1%), antibiotics (4.5%), ADHD medications (3.5%), topical agents such as dermatologic agents and nasal steroids (3.5%), and antihistamines (2.0%). Asthma medication, ADHD medication, and contraceptive use significantly increased. Antibiotic, antihistamine, and upper respiratory combination medication use decreased.

Image: PD

©2018 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. All rights reserved. No works may be reproduced without expressed written consent from 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. Inquire about licensing here. No article should be construed as medical advice and is not intended as such by the authors or by 2 Minute Medicine, Inc.

Tags: asthmaattention-deficit/hyperactivity disorderpediatric
Previous Post

Patients with advanced adenomas are at increased risk of developing colorectal cancer

Next Post

Standard of practice intervention linked to reduced total and intravenous opioids for inpatients

RelatedReports

AAP recommends disaster preparedness measures for children
Infectious Disease

BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine safe and efficacious in young children

February 23, 2023
Microbe-rich environment associated with lower rates of asthma
Emergency

Impact of COVID-19 on pediatric asthma-related healthcare utilization in New York City

February 4, 2023
Ear infections decreasing in infants
Pediatrics

High-protein supplementation improves linear growth in infants

January 30, 2023
Evidence-based interventions for pediatric asthma successfully adapted for community health centers
Emergency

Emergency department crowding negative influences outcomes for adults presenting with asthma

December 27, 2022
Next Post

Standard of practice intervention linked to reduced total and intravenous opioids for inpatients

Participation in sports and exercise linked to lower opioid use

Long-acting buprenorphine depot injections may be efficacious in treatment of opioid use disorder

Paternal factors associated with short interpregnancy interval

2 Minute Medicine Rewind May 21, 2018

License Our Award-Winning Physician-Written Medical News and Visual Abstracts

2 Minute Medicine is the leading authoritative medical news licensing service, and the only with reports written by practicing doctors.

LICENSE CONTENT

2MM+ Premium Access

No ads & unlimited access to all current reports, over 9000 searchable archived reports, visual abstracts, Weekly Rewinds, and the online edition of The Classics Series™ textbook.

Subscription Options
2 Minute Medicine

2 Minute Medicine® is an award winning, physician-run, expert medical media company. Our content is curated, written and edited by practicing health professionals who have clinical and scientific expertise in their field of reporting. Our editorial management team is comprised of highly-trained MD physicians. Join numerous brands, companies, and hospitals who trust our licensed content.

Recent Reports

  • Similar perinatal outcomes observed amongst conception via natural and assisted reproductive means
  • Combination doxycycline and azithromycin therapy effective in treating severe scrub typhus
  • Adenoma detection rate is inversely associated with post-colonoscopy colorectal cancer risk
License Content
Terms of Use | Disclaimer
Cookie Policy
Privacy Statement (EU)
Disclaimer

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

  • Specialties
    • Cardiology
    • Chronic Disease
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency
    • Endocrinology
    • Gastroenterology
    • Imaging and Intervention
    • Infectious Disease
    • Nephrology
    • Neurology
    • Obstetrics
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Pediatrics
    • Preclinical
    • Psychiatry
    • Public Health
    • Pulmonology
    • Rheumatology
    • Surgery
  • The Scan
  • Wellness
  • Classics™
    • 2MM+ Online Access
    • Paperback and Ebook
  • Rewinds
  • Visual
  • Partners
    • License Content
    • Submit Press Release
    • Advertise with Us
  • Account
    • Subscribe
    • Sign-in
    • My account

© 2021 2 Minute Medicine, Inc. - Physician-written medical news.

Want more physician-written
medical news?

Join over 10 million yearly readers and numerous companies. For healthcare professionals
and the public.

Subscribe for free today!

Subscription options