Drug use. Data, sources, and limitations

Pharmacology of Antibiotics

“…The costs of adverse reactions-alteration of the microbial flora and expenditure of the health dollar however, compel us to reexamine the manner in which we are using them. It is estimated that in 1973, 2.8 million prescriptions and drug orders representing an economic value of 11 billion dollars were dispensed in the U.S.A. (Rucker, 1974). of those costs were for antimicrobials (Kunin McGowan !!.…”

Side Effects on Fetus and Infant of Psychotropic Drug Use during Pregnancy

“…Balter and Levine (1973) reported that during the year 1970, a total of 214 million prescriptions for psychotherapeutic drugs were filled in United States drug stores, at a retail cost of 972 million dollars, and these 214 million prescriptions accounted for approximately 17 % of the total of 1.3 billion pre scriptions for all drugs. As the extent of total drug usage in 1973 amounted to 2.8 billion prescriptions (Rucker, 1974), psychotropic drug usage may also have doubled between 1970 and 1973 to at least 450 million prescriptions.With usage so widespread, it can be presumed that many pregnant women receive psychotropic drugs. Although the mother needs the drug, the fetus does not; it becomes a passive receiver.…”