Drugs you might want to skip

5 medications that are notoriously overprescribed to women

Women take about 40 percent more prescription drugs than men, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Women visit doctors about 35 percent more often, too—and that's not counting ob/gyn appointments and other preventive care. That might be one reason women live about five years longer than men on average. Also, women are often better about taking care of their health and their family's health.

But there's one not-so-good result of all those doctor visits: Women are prescribed lots of pills, as the statistics show. Even more disturbing, our investigative analysis finds that some of those drugs are prescribed to women when they might not need to be at all.

1. Statins to lower cholesterol

Examples

Atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin (Altoprev, Mevacor, and generic), pravastatin (Pravachol and generic), and rosuvastatin (Crestor)

The risk

In the U.S.,16 percent of women ages 45 to 64 take a statin, and more than a third of women 65 and older do, too. Many docs assume statins will give women the same benefits as men when it comes to preventing heart disease. But for women at low risk, studies show that statins won't help you live longer. Plus they can cause muscle pain and weakness, and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and liver damage.

What to try instead

If your only risk factor is elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol, your first step should be to adopt healthful lifestyle practices: Quit smoking, eat a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, exercise, lose weight, and moderate your alcohol consumption.

2. Narcotic drugs for pain

Examples

Codeine, oxycodone (OxyContin and generic), and oxycodone with acetaminophen (Percocet and generic)

The risk

Women take almost 50 percent more narcotic pain relievers than men. (Women report suffering from more pain-related conditions.) But long-term use of narcotics can increase sensitivity to pain. One study found that about half of people who take them suffer adverse effects such as drowsiness, nausea, and constipation, and in another study, about a quarter of people misused them.

What to try instead

For lower-back pain, hands-on treatments such as chiropractic, massage, and physical therapy rated higher than meds in our recent survey. Exercise and occasional use of over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen can help. Research has shown that doing Hatha yoga at least twice a week can help with back pain.

3. NSAIDs for pain

Examples

Aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil and generic), and naproxen (Aleve and generic)

The risk

Many experts believe people take more NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) than they should, but women take a third more than men in any given year. And up to 10 percent of people who take them experience stomach bleeding. NSAIDs can also affect blood pressure and kidney function, and taking high doses for long periods can raise heart attack and stroke risk.

What to try

instead Take a pain-reliever holiday every so often. Consider alternatives such as massage, acupuncture, and glucosamine sulfate (for joint pain).

4. Proton-pump inhibitors for acid reflux and heartburn

Examples

Esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid, Prevacid 24HR), and omeprazole (Prilosec, Prilosec OTC, and generic)

The risk

Those drugs are very widely used, and women are the biggest users, taking 40 percent more than men. Studies show that people who take them have a higher risk of pneumonia and infections with clostridium difficile (a potentially deadly bacteria), and for women, bone fractures.

What to try instead

Limit alcohol and caffeine, eat smaller meals, lose weight, quit smoking, and avoid lying down until 2 hours after eating. Antacids such as Mylanta, Rolaids, and Tums can relieve the occasional bout of heartburn.

5. Bisphosphonates to treat osteoporosis and osteopenia

Examples

Alendronate (Fosamax and generic), ibandronate (Boniva), and risedronate (Actonel and generic)

The risk

Unless you have osteoporosis or you're at very high risk because you have a family history of it, are very thin, or are a smoker, the limited help those drugs can offer might not be worth the risk of rare but serious side effects. Those include abnormal heart rhythm; severe bone, joint, and muscle pain; bone loss in the jaw; thigh fractures; and esophageal ulcers.

What to try instead

Get at least 800 international units of vitamin D a day from food or supplements, and 1,200 milligrams of calcium if you're 50 or older. Do weight-bearing exercise such as walking several times a week to strengthen muscles and bones.