The 10 most prescribed drugs in the U.S. aren’t the drugs on which we spend the most, according to a report from the IMS Institute for Healthcare Informatics. The institute is the public face of IMS, a pharmaceutical market intelligence firm. Its latest report provides a wealth of data on U.S. prescription drug use. In order of number of prescriptions written in 2010, the 10 most- prescribed drugs in the U.S. are:
1. Hydrocodone (combined with acetaminophen) — 131.2 million prescriptions
2. Generic Zocor (simvastatin) — 94.1 million prescriptions
3. Lisinopril (Prinivil and Zestril) — 87.4 million prescriptions
4. Generic Synthroid (levothyroxine sodium) — 70.5 million prescriptions
5. Generic Norvasc (amlodipine besylate) — 57.2 million prescriptions
6. Generic Prilosec (omeprazole) — 53.4 million prescriptions
7. Azithromycin (Z-Pak and Zithromax) — 52.6 million prescriptions
8. Amoxicillin (various brand names) — 52.3 million prescriptions
9. Generic Glucophage (metformin) — 48.3 million prescriptions
10. Hydrochlorothiazide (various brand names) — 47.8 million prescriptions.
The 10 Best-Selling Drugs: The IMS reports that Americans spent $307 billion on prescription drugs in 2010.
1. Lipitor, a cholesterol-lowering statin drug — $7.2 billion
2. Nexium, an antacid drug — $6.3 billion
3. Plavix, a blood thinner — $6.1 billion
4. Advair Diskus, an asthma inhaler — $4.7 billion
5. Abilify, an antipsychotic drug — $4.6 billion
6. Seroquel, an antipsychotic drug — $4.4 billion
7. Singulair, an oral asthma drug — $4.1 billion
8. Crestor, a cholesterol-lowering statin drug — $3.8 billion
9. Actos, a diabetes drug — $3.5 billion
10. Epogen, an injectable anemia drug — $3.3 billion
