Table 4 Pill burden from each drug category

1

Phosphate binders

32.84

409

76.7

6.44

 Ca carbonate

16.37

301

56.5

4.36

 La carbonate

8.14

164

30.8

3.98

 Fe-based PBs

5.37

104

19.5

4.14

 Polymeric PBs

2.97

39

7.3

6.10

2

Antihypertensives

8.36

329

61.7

2.04

3

Coronary vasodilators, antianginal agents

8.12

308

57.8

2.12

4

Anticoagulants

6.06

269

50.5

1.81

5

Agents for peptic ulcer

5.52

307

57.6

1.44

6

Antidiabetic agents

4.95

175

32.8

2.27

7

Purgatives and clysters

3.47

153

28.7

1.82

8

Antidiarrheals, intestinal regulators

2.82

94

17.6

2.40

9

Agents for hyperlipidemias

2.48

189

35.5

1.05

10

Potassium binders

2.33

98

18.4

1.90

11

Calcimimetics

2.30

155

29.1

1.18

12

Antiarrhythmic agents

2.00

93

17.4

1.72

13

Hypnotics and sedatives, antianxietics

1.98

138

25.9

1.15

14

Vitamin D receptor activator (VDRA)

1.72

141

26.5

0.98

15

Diuretics

1.67

118

22.1

1.13

16

Antipyretics, analgesics and

1.46

83

15.6

1.41

 anti-inflammatory agents

17

Antiallergic agents

1.16

94

17.6

0.99

18

Vitamin preparations (exc. VDRA)

1.16

36

6.8

2.59

19

Chinese medicines

1.04

76

14.3

1.10

20

Cholagogues

0.78

18

3.4

3.47

21

Antihypotensive agents

0.71

91

17.1

0.63

22

Antitussives and expectorants

0.58

35

6.6

1.32

23

Anti-itchings

0.56

34

6.4

1.33

24

Antidysuria agents

0.56

30

5.6

1.51

25

Gastrointestinal prokinetic agents

0.56

25

4.7

1.79

26

Psychotropic agents

0.54

28

5.3

1.54

27

Agents for treatment of gout

0.50

43

8.1

0.93

28

Antiepileptics

0.42

20

3.8

1.70

29

Thyroid preparations

0.41

26

4.9

1.28

30

Adrenal hormone preparations

0.35

17

3.2

1.65

31

Pain relieving agents

0.32

24

4.5

1.06

32

Zinc preparations

0.27

18

3.4

1.19

33

Antimicrobials

0.12

19

3.6

0.52

34

Agents used for common cold

0.12

18

3.4

0.53

35

Others (less than 10 prescribed-patients)

1.77

63

11.8

2.25