Mayo Clinic study: 70% of Americans on prescription medication

MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A new study finds almost 70% of Americans are on at least one prescription drug -- and 20% are on five or more.

This, according to Mayo Clinic and Olmsted Medical Center researchers.

Antibiotics,antidepressants and painkilling opioids are most commonly prescribed, their study found.

According to Mayo Clinic, 17% of those studied were prescribed antibiotics, 13% were taking antidepressants and 13% were on opioids.

Mayo Clinic says drugs to lower lipids, such as cholesterol, came in fourth (11%) and vaccines were fifth (11%).

Drugs were prescribed to both men and women across all age groups, except high blood pressure drugs, which were seldom used before age 30.

Overall, women and older adults receive more prescriptions.

Five years ago, nearly half of Americans were on some kind of medication.

CLICK HERE for more on this study via MayoClinic.org.