DRUGS IN THE USA

 Let me share an interesting statistic - for what it's worth.  Here are the 10 most often prescribed drugs in the USA in the years 2010 and 2019.  Some of these drugs are also sold under other names.

2010 

1.  Hydrocodone - a pain-killer  131.9 million prescriptions

2.  Zocor - cholesterol-lowering  94.1

3.  Lisinopril - blood pressure reducer  87.4

4.  Synthroid - thyroid hormone  70.5

5.  Norvasc - blood pressure reducer  57.2 

6.  Prilosec - antacid  53.4  + over-the-counter

7.  Azithromycin - antibiotic (z-pack)  52.6

8.  Amoxicillin - antibiotic  52.3

9.  Glucophage -  insulin for diabetics  48.3

10.Hydrodchlorothiazide - diuretic/blood pressure reducer 47.8

2019

1.  Lipitor - cholesterol-lowering

2.  Synthroid - thyroid hormone

3.  Lisinopril - blood pressure reducer

4.  Hydrocodone - a pain-killer

5.  Norvasc (Amlodipine) - blood pressure reducer

6.  Prilosec - antacid + over-the-counter

7.  Albuterol - breathing disorders

8.  Flonase -  allergy symptoms + over-the-counter

9.  Motrin - pain reducer

10.Prednisone - arthritis, asthma, inflammations  

• Notice the reduction in pain-killer prescriptions for the opiate Hydrocodone.  It's popularity with doctors fueled the drug abuse crisis that still lingers. 
• Notice how doctors have reduced the antibiotics they are prescribing.  Excess antibiotics leads to our inability to fight bacterial infections.
• I had no idea that many people had thyroid problems