The number and type of prescription drugs has changed over the years as new advancements in medicine have adapted to the most common ailments. According to a comprehensive report by IMS Health, the most common prescription drugs are used to treat cholesterol, pain, hypothyroidism, bacterial infections and high blood pressure. The five most commonly used prescriptions should not be confused with the prescription drugs with the most sales as generic medication prices can offset this number.
Lipitor
The 2008 report by IMS Health lists Lipitor as the most commonly prescribed drug with nearly 58,000 prescriptions. Lipitor is a medication used to low cholesterol. It blocks the production of cholesterol, which is a specific type of fat. According to the homepage for Lipitor states that more than one in five Americans have high cholesterol. Lipitor is the most prescribed cholesterol lowering medicine world wide.
Hydrocodone with Acetaminophen
The IMH report lists hydrocodone with acetaminophen as the second and third most commonly prescribed medications grouped individually by manufacturer. Hydrocodone is prescribed to treat pain and suppress cough while acetaminophen is added to strengthen the pain killing effects while also reducing abuse potential. In the United States, one of the most common name brand medications for hydrocodone and acetaminophen combo is Vicodin.
Levothyroxine Sodium
Levothyroxine sodium is used to treat hypothyroidism. It is also used to treat people with other thyroid complications such as goiter, which is an enlarged thyroid gland. In the 2008 issue of the British Medical Journal, Dr. Bijay Vaidya and associates listed levothyroxine as the most commonly used medication for hypothyroidism and also as the most effective.
Amoxicillin
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic used to treat general bacterial infections caused by susceptible microorganisms. The Life Extension Foundation lists the most common bacterial infections as respiratory, gastrointestinal, skin and hospital acquired. The McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois also lists antibiotics like Amoxicillin as effective treatments for acne. Amoxicillin works by neutralizing bacterial infections that the body would otherwise not be able to eliminate on its own. It is also effective because it has anti-inflammatory effects against acne.
Lisinopril
Lisinopril is a medication that works to inhibit the angiotensin converting enzyme. It is primarily prescribed to treat conditions like high blood pressure and congestive heart failure and is also effective in helping people recover after experiencing a heart attack. Lisinopril is also prescribed to treat people with complications caused by diabetes such as kidney disease and retinal degeneration. According the the National Institute of Health, Lisinopril works by dilating the blood vessels, allowing more blood to flow and reducing the overall workload of the heart.
References
- Pharamacy Times: Top 200 Prescription Drugs For 2008
- "British Journal Of Medicine;" Management of Hypothyroidism in Adults; Bijay Vaidya; July 2008
- Life Extenstion Foundation: Bacterial Infections
- University of Illinois, McKinley Health Center: Acne
- National Institute of Health: Lisinopril
