OBJECTIVES: To quantify the association between disability and prescription medication use among older adults. Individuals with disability may consume more or varying types of prescription medication, thereby requiring special services. METHODS: Data from the nationally-representative Health and Retirement Study 2006 and the Prescription Drug Study 2007 in the United States were used to examine associations between disability and prescription medication use among 2,755 adults. The dependent variable, disability versus no disability, was determined based on responses to questions assessing functional, mobility, and cognitive status. Subjects responding affirmatively to one of these types of disabilities were classified as disabled. Chi-square tests assessed the dependent categorical variables by disability. Negative binomial regressions were used to examine the relationship between disability and prescription medication use, controlling for accessibility, affordability, beliefs in medication, health conditions and socio-demographic variables. RESULTS: Of the 2,755 subjects, 70.8% were classified as disabled. Female, older, non-white, widowed, less educated, living in rural area, lower income, having three chronic diseases, poor health status, no alcohol or smoking habits, hardly exercise, taking prescription drugs regularly, and consulting with medical doctors more were all statistically significant variables indicative of greater risk of disability (P<0.0001). Subjects classified as disabled [IRR=1.09 (95% CI, 1.03-1.15)], with three or more chronic conditions  [IRR=2.08 (95% CI, 1.93-2.35)], not exercising [IRR=1.08 (95% CI, 1.04-1.10)], taking medications regularly [IRR=1.85 (95% CI, 1.51-2.27)] and seven more times doctor visits  [IRR=1.46 (95% CI, 1.36-1.57)] had a greater incidence of prescription medication uses.  Subjects with lower income [IRR=0.99 (95% CI, 0.99-0.99)], no alcohol or smoking habits [IRR=0.93 (95% CI, 0.88-0.98)] had a lower incidence likelihood of prescription medication uses.  CONCLUSIONS: Disability was a statistically significant predictor of prescription medication use. Further research is necessary to examine the associations between specific disability types and medications use.