Final answer:
New drugs may be prescribed more frequently than older medications for several reasons, including marketing tactics, profitability, and patient demand.
Step-by-step explanation:
There are several reasons why new drugs might be prescribed more frequently than older medications, even if they are not more effective:
- Marketing tactics: Pharmaceutical companies aggressively promote new drugs to healthcare professionals, leading to increased prescribing rates.
- Profitability: New drugs often come with higher price tags, generating more revenue for pharmaceutical companies.
- Patient demand: Patients may request new drugs based on advertisements or perceptions of being more advanced.