Women Rxed more medicines than men, but take less, US study finds

There is a wide gender divide when it comes to how men and women in the USA are prescribed and adhere to their medications. According to a new study, while women use more prescription drugs than men, they are less likely to be prescribed drugs according to clinical guidelines and are not as good about adhering to the medications they are prescribed.

The research was conducted by Medco Health Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: MHS) and the US Society for Women's Health Research and presented Saturday at Women's Health 2012: The 20th Annual Congress.

The study found that women of all ages use more medications – an average of five drugs, compared to less than four (3.7) drugs for men, and that more women than men (68% versus 59%) took at least one chronic or acute medication during the study period. The higher average persisted even after accounting for prescription contraceptives.