Table 3: Top 10 medications dispensed to older adults by nurse practitioners (NPs) and family physicians (FPs) in 2000, 2005 and 2010
Rank200020052010
NP (%)FP (%)NP (%)FP (%)NP (%)FP (%)
1Sulf/tmp* (22.8)ACEI* (6.1)Fungicides* (9.6)Diuretics† (6.7)Statins† (9.2)Statins† (7.4)
2Penicillins* (12.3)Benzodiazepine derivatives* (6.0)Nonsystemic corticosteroids* (7.7)ACEIs† (6.5)ACEIs† (6.5)PPIs† (5.6)
3Nonsystemic corticosteroids*(11.1)Diuretics* (5.5)Laxatives* (6.8)Statins† (5.9)Diuretics† (6.4)Diuretics† (5.6)
4NSAIDs* (7.7)CCBs* (4.9)Diuretics* (5.1)CCBs† (4.9)PPIs† (5.2)ACEIs† (5.2)
5Fungicides* (7.1)Beta-blockers* (4.0)Miscellaneous local anti-infectives*(5.1)Beta-blockers† (4.8)Beta-blockers† (4.8)CCBs† (4.7)
6Antibiotics* (5.5)Statins* (3.8)Macrolides* (5.0)PPIs† (4.4)CCBs† (4.7)Beta-blockers† (4.7)
7Urinary anti-infectives* (5.2)NSAIDs† (3.7)Analgesics, simple† (3.8)Benzodiazepine derivatives† (4.2)OHAs† (4.6)OHAs† (4.2)
8Laxatives* (4.0)OHAs† (3.6)ACEIs† (3.8)OHAs† (3.9)Antithyroids, hypothyroidism† (3.4)Antithyroids, hypothyroidism†(3.2)
9Analgesics, simple† (3.4)Histamine H2 receptor antagonists* (3.5)Sulf/tmp* (3.7)Antithyroids, hypothyroidism* (3.3)Laxatives* (3.0)Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors* (3.1)
10Metronidazole* (3.1)Narcotics, opiate agonists† (3.3)Stool softeners† (3.5)Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors† (2.9)Bisphosphonates† (3.0)Benzodiazepine derivatives† (3.0)
% of all pre-scriptions824554485147

Note: ACEI = angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors; CCB = calcium-channel blockers; FP = family physician; NP = nurse practitioner; NSAID = nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; OHA = oral antiglycemics; PPI = proton pump inhibitors; sulf/tmp = sulfonamides, trimethoprim and combination.
*Medication for acute conditions.
†Medication for chronic conditions.