Notes from the Field : Pharmacy Needs After a Natural Disaster — Puerto Rico, September–October 2017

Abstract

This report presents the retail-dispensed drug prescriptions in Puerto Rico, during June-August 2017, to identify post-disaster medication needs after Hurricane Maria made landfall on 20 September 2017. Data show that the top categories of drugs prescribed were for cardiovascular (average, 21% of prescriptions filled), psychiatric (12%) and analgesic (10%) drugs. Among the cardiovascular drugs prescribed, a majority were angiotensin II receptor antagonists (29%), beta-blockers (20%) and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (18%). The most frequently dispensed individual drugs were thyroid replacement hormones (230 324 prescriptions dispensed, 5% of total dispensed), gabapentin (144 114 prescriptions dispensed, 3% of total), and metformin (141 734 prescriptions dispensed, 3% of total). 90% of the prescribed drugs were for oral administration. These dispensing practices can highlight important chronic disease concerns for a community and provide information for planning both before and after a disaster.