Medication use in a rural gynecologic population: prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medicines.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to document current medication use by a rural female population.

STUDY DESIGN

Over a 42-month period, nonpregnant women were interviewed about medication use. When applicable, interviews on subsequent visits provided a longitudinal study of medication usage and discontinuation, and data were analyzed according to the number of drugs used, age, and payment status.

RESULTS

Five hundred sixty-seven participants had 776 interviews. Ninety-two percent of the participants took prescription medications, 96.5% of the participants self-medicated with over-the-counter medications, and 59.1% of the participants used herbal medications. Usage of prescription medications increased with age and, in some instances, varied with payment status. A database query for potential interacting drugs found several instances of coadministration, including herbal medicines that were not prescribed by the physician.

CONCLUSION

Medication usage (all types) by rural women is substantial, and the frequency of usage varies on the basis of both age and payment status. Patients should also be queried concerning medications that are not prescribed by the physician for an assessment of potential drug interactions.