All drugs in a prospective series of 309 consecutive patients with cervical fractures and 300 with trochanteric fractures were recorded and compared with an age- and sex-matched randomly selected group from the city population files. A greater consumption of drugs was observed in the hip fracture group compared with the control group. Significant differences were observed for men regarding selective beta 2-adrenergic stimulants and xanthines, laxatives, phenothiazines and anti-psychotic drugs, as well as anti-glaucoma drugs. Women with hip fractures had a significantly greater consumption of diuretics, laxatives, insulin, phenothiazines and other antipsychotic drugs.