# How many different prescription meds do you take? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 14, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535 "2012-01-14T22:28:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/61 "2012-01-17T16:09:05Z")
at 55, i’m being treated for high BP, acid reflux, underactive thyroid, and high cholesterol, so five total meds if you include the accompanying water pill to the BP dose. I was on nsaids for and i quote ‘erosive osteoarthritis,’ :rolleyes: but after a recent vascular kidney disease scare (negative results, thank god), no more arthritis meds for this girl. tylenol is now my best friend. ---
**Author:** ![Jelly\_Roll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Jelly\_Roll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelly_Roll)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/62 "2012-01-17T17:26:16Z")
Female, 34 - I have 2 prescriptions: (i) Synthroid, which I can’t live without; and (ii) spironolactone, which I can live without, but don’t want to. I have health insurance, so I pay just over $26 every month for these medications. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/63 "2012-01-17T17:34:19Z")
Female, 32. A \*\*BCP \*\*(for years) and \*\*Citalopram \*\*(just started last year - Mr. Horseshoe informs me that I’m not so much of a raving psychobitch anymore 🙂 so I’ll probably stay on it a while). ---
**Author:** ![LouisB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dfb087/32.png) [@LouisB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LouisB)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/64 "2012-01-17T18:19:50Z")
Male, 71, 6 prescription meds ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2012, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/65 "2012-01-17T19:07:55Z")
I’m 36 and I take none. I am starting allergy shots in a week or so so that will count, but my health insurance covers those. I take Zyrtec, Prilosec (or the brand name equivalants), a daily multivitamin, and a daily calcium pill, and I hate taking four pills - but I do it for my health. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 9:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/66 "2012-01-18T09:06:10Z")
58, female, no medications but I do take vitamins and fish oil caps. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/67 "2012-01-18T09:23:09Z")
All this is in Spain; those of us under 65 would pay 60% of prescriptions, Mom 0%. The amount of meds refers only to prescriptions used regularly; OTC stuff used with some frequency (such as ibuprophen during periods) isn’t counted. 43, female, no meds. Bro#1: 37, male, no meds. Bro#2: 35, male, no meds. Sister in law: 37, female, scrip muscle relaxants as needed. My mother: 71, female, 16 daily prescription pills from 7 different bottles. The Bros and I call her “pill-popper” as a friendly dig and she answers “:p” ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/68 "2012-01-18T11:03:26Z")
I lost track! FTR, the pharmacist pointed me to the same thing on the Generic Shit shelf and said, “This is the same thing.” Then I found another “same thing” at “Everything’s a Buck.” My mama told me to always shop around, specially if you are buying light metals. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/69 "2012-01-18T11:35:25Z")
> [@Suburban\_Plankton](#): > > I’m 44, male, and take no medications. Absolute ditto. I recently took antibiotics and anti-amebics for dysentery, but nothing regularly. ---
**Author:** ![tim-n-va](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim-n-va/32/3001_2.png) [@tim-n-va](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tim-n-va)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/70 "2012-01-18T12:43:58Z")
Didn’t vote but here’s the short answer for a 54 year old male: Up until the end of last year, ten different meds Got feed up and stopped all but one. Long answer most were preventative/control not to treat specific symptoms. A variety of cholesterol,diabetes, blood pressure and prescribed vitimins were dropped. Hypothryroid meds kepts. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/71 "2012-01-18T21:24:34Z")
Daughter won’t need to be picked up at work tonight so I can add a diuretic to my list. And more light metals to make up for any losses. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/72 "2012-01-18T21:35:22Z")
46 years old, and I take 4 prescriptions on a daily basis, all due to being a type 2 diabetic. Two of them are, technically, optional (a statin, and a blood-pressure med which also is supposed to help prevent any diabetes-related complications in my kidneys), but the other two are pretty much mandatory (they help my body process sugar and use insulin). My wife is 48, and has never been on an ongoing prescription of any kind. ---
**Author:** ![MacSpon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/34f0e0/32.png) [@MacSpon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacSpon)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2012, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/73 "2012-01-19T15:03:55Z")
Two, both for asthma. One I use daily, one only as needed (and since my doctor finally got the dose right for the first one, I almost never use the second). ---
**Author:** ![Allthegood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@Allthegood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Allthegood)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/74 "2012-01-26T21:02:36Z")
56 year old female living in the USA and currently covered by a medical/prescription plan, and not taking any prescription medicine on a regular basis. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2012, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/75 "2012-01-26T22:41:35Z")
50 year old woman. I take generic thyroid meds (thyroid surgically removed) and 1/2 an Ambien generic at bedtime. I have a script for Maxalt for migraines I only take once every three months or so. I voted 2. StG ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/76 "2012-01-27T06:22:41Z")
I take 10 different meds = 18 tablets and 1 nasal spray ---
**Author:** ![madrabbitwoman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c37758/32.png) [@madrabbitwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madrabbitwoman)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2012, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535/77 "2012-01-27T06:35:52Z")
Whoops … 38yr old female. Lithicarb and Epilim for mood stabilisation Citalopram - antidepressant Seroquel - anti-psychotic Metformin - Diabetes drug to help prevent the weight gain of resulting form the above meds Norimin - BC to help prevent pre menstrual psychosis Roxide - Antibiotic for chronic sinus infection. Avamys - steroid for chronic sinus infection. Bisalax - gut motility drug to help with constipation caused by god only knows which in the above list of meds. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-many-different-prescription-meds-do-you-take/609535.md?page=3)