Known as being the largest prescription drug consumer in the world, here is a visual guide to which drugs are most prescribed. The chart is broken down by which illness the drugs are treating, and then further broken down by medicine name.
Nearly all of these prescriptions are directly tied to our terrible diet and lifestyle habits in America. It’s no secret that we eat too much, we eat the wrong things, and we rarely exercise. As a result we are spending more than $1000 per capita in prescription drugs. Over 30% higher than any other country and significantly higher than the world average. Read about the most expensive prescription drugs.
Cholesterol Lowering Drugs
This class of drug is the top prescribed medicine in America with over 12% of people currently on it. Lipitor is the single most prescribed drug in America, with a number of similar drugs by different names also prescribed to treat high cholesterol.
Antibiotics
A classic case of when a good thing is taken too far. Antibiotics are a marvel of modern science and pharmacology. These days they are prescribed at alarming rates for just about everything. Amoxil and Trimox are the most prescribed antibiotics and are used to treat bacterial infections in the mouth, throat, ears and nose.
Blood Pressure Medication
Another byproduct of our subpar diets, blood pressure medication is third on the list of most prescribed drugs in America. These are prescribed for chronic high blood pressure as well as after someone has had a significant adverse health event like a heart attack or organ failure. Prinivil and Zestril are the most commonly prescribed form of blood pressure medication.
Thyroid Medication
Thyroid medication is becoming more prescribed and is used to treat an underactive and overactive thyroid gland. The thyroid gland makes thyroid hormones which has a large impact on energy levels.
Breathing Medicine
These typically take the form of an inhaler and help people with asthma or severe allergies. Ventolin and Proventil are the most prescribed breathing medications.
Diabetes
I actually thought this one would be higher on the list, but Metformin is prescribed to just over 5% of the population. This medication helps lower blood sugar.
Other Commonly Prescribed Drugs
Medications for pain, inflammation, stomach acid, seizures, anti-depressants and diuretics round out the list of the most prescribed drugs in America. While it is incredible that we have been able to create such amazing treatments for all of these problems and illnesses we suffer from, it begs the question “why are we so sick”. Hopefully we are approaching “peak pharmaceutical” much the way we reached “peak sugar” about 10 years ago and have gradually been eating less. Your brain on prescription drugs can be scary.