Prescriptions

What Are the Top Prescribed Prescription Drugs in the U.S.?

Madeline Hlobik
Madeline Hlobik21 Sep 2021
The Top Prescribed Prescription Drugs in the U.S.
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Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
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Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid)
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Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
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Metformin (Glucophage)
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Amlodipine (Norvasc)
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Metoprolol (Toprol XL, Lopressor)
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Omeprazole (Prilosec)
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Losartan (Cozaar)
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Albuterol (Ventolin HFA, ProAir HFA, ProAir RespiClick)
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Gabapentin (Gralise, Horizant, Neuraptine)
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Bottom Line
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Last year, more than $500 billion was spent on prescription drugs within the U.S. There are various drugs prescribed every year, each with its treatment for a specific medical condition. However, out of all the medications prescribed each year, the top 10 include Atorvastatin, Albuterol, Omeprazole, Lisinopril, Levothyroxine, Metformin, Amlodipine, Metoprolol, Gabapentin, and Losartan.

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The Top Prescribed Prescription Drugs in the U.S.

Below we go through the most popular prescription drugs along with what they treat, their average cost, the brand name and generic names, potential side effects, and more.

Prescribed Prescription DrugAverage Retail Price per Refill
Atorvastatin$218.51
Albuterol$53.75
Omeprazole$82.49
Lisinopril$27.10
Levothyroxine$31.29
Metformin$16.25
Amlodipine$27.34
Metoprolol$13.63
Gabapentin$68.67
Losartan$128.90

Source: https://www.drugreport.com/50-commonly-prescribed-drugs-in-america/ 

Total Amount of Prescriptions Placed

Additionally, below is a table with the prescribed medications that will be detailed and the total number of times each is prescribed. The most popular drug, Atorvastatin, has been prescribed about 112,474,023 times.

Prescribed Prescription DrugTotal Amount of Prescriptions Placed
Atorvastatin112,474,023
Levothyroxine105,773,990
Lisinopril97,608,879 
Metformin83,762,981
Amlodipine72,508,878
Metoprolol68,076,156
Omeprazole58,837,874
Losartan51,989,444
Albuterol50,286,686
Gabapentin46,063,168
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Madeline Hlobik

Madeline is a Senior at UCLA majoring in Human Biology & Society with a minor in Spanish. She's currently a Healthcare Research Analyst at Mira, writing content for the blog to help the public better understand certain medical issues, technologies, testings, and the importance of healthcare.

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