A survey by SingleCare found that a growing number of Americans are turning to artificial intelligence for medication-related advice. According to the report, 46% of respondents said they had used AI to answer questions about medications, while 49% of AI users said they changed how they took a medication based on information generated by AI.
The survey found that 78% of respondents considered AI-generated medication information to be at least somewhat accurate. At the same time, 83% said they were at least somewhat concerned that AI could provide incorrect medication guidance. Nearly half of respondents (47%) also said using AI was more convenient than consulting a healthcare professional.
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AI use varied across demographic groups. Women (44%) were less likely than men (50%) to use AI for medication-related questions. Parents—particularly those with two or more children (62%)—were more likely to rely on AI for medication guidance than respondents without children under 18 living at home (42%).
Households with annual incomes of $100,000 or more were more likely than those earning less than $50,000 to use AI to compare medication alternatives (46% vs. 26%), decide whether to seek care for a health problem (45% vs. 30%), interpret lab results (34% vs. 24%), and obtain a prescription (44% vs. 34%), according to the survey.
Younger adults were more likely to use AI for medication-related advice, although they also appeared to be more skeptical of the information it provided. Reported use of AI for medication research was similar among adults ages 18 to 54 (51%) but declined among those 55 and older (38%). More than half of adults ages 18 to 24 (56%) said they had used AI to answer medication-related questions, and 80% said they verified the information. By comparison, only 38% of adults 55 and older said they had used AI for medication research, and just 56% said they verified AI-generated information.
While most respondents used AI for basic medication research, many also relied on it to make health decisions. About 51% said they used AI to learn what a medication is and what it is used for, while 44% looked up side effects or dosage recommendations. Nearly half (49%) said they changed how they took a medication based on information generated by AI.
Healthcare providers say they are seeing more patients arrive at appointments with questions—and sometimes recommendations—generated by AI.
“Just in the past few weeks, patients have come to office visits with specific AI-related queries and answers,” said Leslie Greenberg, MD. “Last month, I had a woman ask to ‘optimize’ her hormones and request an extensive lab panel. These labs are available but not routinely used in menopausal hormone therapy because they rarely alter treatment or management.”
Chad Shaffer, MD, said some patients have successfully used AI as a starting point for lifestyle guidance, provided they later discuss the information with a healthcare professional.
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“Two patients recently told me about using AI to help understand an aspect of their health,” Shaffer said. “One had used an AI model to generate dietary suggestions to mitigate the nausea and constipation side effects of Zepbound use for weight management. The ideas included increasing water and fiber consumption, along with avoiding large, fatty, and late-night meals. I reinforced the advice when asked, and the patient has turned the corner with both medication tolerance and efficacy.”
Medical professionals emphasized that patients should not rely on AI alone when making decisions about medications and should consult their healthcare providers before starting, stopping, or changing a prescription. The survey also found that while using AI to navigate prescription drug costs remains in its early stages, nearly half of respondents (47%) said they had used AI to research ways to save on prescription medications.