Prescription, over-the-counter, and herbal medicine use in a rural, obstetric population.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to identify the medications that are consumed by a rural obstetric population during pregnancy.


METHODS
Over a period of 26 months, pregnant women were interviewed about medication use. Interviews on subsequent visits provided a longitudinal study of medication usage and discontinuation. Trend differences were analyzed according to the number of medications, the trimester of use, and insurance status.


RESULTS
Five hundred seventy-eight participants had 2086 interviews. The compilation of the interviews showed that 95.8% of the participants took prescription medications, 92.6% of the participants self-medicated with over-the-counter medications, and 45.2% of the participants used herbal medications. Over time, consumption of over-the-counter medications exceeded prescription medication use. Fifteen percent of the pregnant women took ibuprofen at some point during the pregnancy (5.7% in the third trimester). Eight percent of the women were noncompliant and 20% incompletely compliant with prenatal vitamin and mineral formulations.


CONCLUSIONS
Medication use was substantial in this population. Medications (eg, ibuprofen) that are contraindicated in pregnancy were used at unexpectedly high rates. Of the three medication classes, over-the-counter medications were used most frequently.
Glover
Douglas D
DD
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, Morgantown 26506, USA.
Amonkar
Mayur
M
Rybeck
Blanche F
BF
Tracy
Timothy S
TS
D000328:Adult; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D029001:Herbal Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008903:Minerals / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011247:Pregnancy; D011295:Prenatal Care; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012651:Self Medication; D014815:Vitamins / Q000627:therapeutic use
D008903:Minerals; D004366:Nonprescription Drugs; D014815:Vitamins; D007052:Ibuprofen