The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently reported that 47% of Americans take, at the minimum, one prescription drug per month. The Food and Drug Administration tracks the number of prescriptions filled each year for each drug, and statistics for the most common prescribed drugs change from year to year. Interestingly, no two of the top 10 drugs come from the same manufacturer.
Lipitor
The Sunlight Reporting Group sites an FDA tally of close to 50,000 Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) prescriptions written yearly. Prescribed for high cholesterol to inhibit a cholesterol-forming enzyme, Lipitor also reduces the risk of heart attack, stroke and angina.
Nexium
The "little purple pill" known to many people to alleviate gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), Nexium (exomeprazole magnesium) also reduces the risk of gastric ulcers in patients taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medication such as aspirin. Nexium prescriptions number almost less than half of Lipitor's according to Sunlight.
Lexapro
Classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, Lexapro, or escitalopram oxalate, treats major depressive disorder as well as general anxiety disorder.
Singulair
For relief of seasonal allergies, asthma and nasal congestion due to allergies, Singulair's (montelukast sodium) long-acting effects makes it a popular prescribed allergy medication according to the FDA.
Plavix
Prescribed primarily to reduce the risk of blood clot formation, Plavix (clopidogrel bisulfate) also works to benefit coronary by-pass graft patients and post heart attack patients.
Synthroid
Synthroid (levothyroxine sodium) treat patients unresponsive to stimuli due to severe hypothyroidism also called myxedema coma. In addition, Synthroid replaces insufficient thyroid hormone in patients with chronic hypothyroidism.
Prevacid
As a short-term treatment for active stomach ulcers, esophageal irritation and active h.pylori infection in the stomach, Prevacid (lansoprazole) prevents gastric upset when taken shortly before meals according to the PDR Nurse's Drug Handbook.
Advair diskus
Indicated by Mosby's Nursing Drug Reference handbook for the long-term treatment of asthma and airflow obstruction in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Advair's (fluticasone propionate) easily recognizable round purple disk opens the airways of patients in a twice daily inhaled dose of medication.
Effexor XR
Classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, Effexor, also known as venlafaxine hydrochloride, alleviates depression and generalized anxiety, panic and social anxiety disorders. Patients find Effexor's long-acting release convenient to keep their moods stable throughout the day.
Diovan
Diovan, also known as valsartan, lowers blood pressure, treats heart failure and reduces the incidence of death in post heart attack patients. At a mere 15,000 prescriptions each year, Diovan also works in conjunction with other blood pressure medications in the long-term treatment of hypertension.
References
- "PDR Nurse's Drug Handbook 2010"; Thomson Reuters and Alexander Ivy; 2009
- "Mosby's 2010 Nursing Drug Reference"; Linda Skidmore-Roth; 2009
- CDC
- Sunlight Reporting Foundation Group: FDA Holds Back Information on 9 of the 25 Most Prescribed Drugs
- Rx List
