The hypothyroid medication levothyroxine (Synthroid, AbbVie) continues to be the nation's most prescribed drug, and the antipsychotic aripiprazole (Abilify, Otsuka Pharmaceutical) continues to have the highest sales, at nearly $6.9 billion, according to the latest data from research firm IMS Health.
The data reflect a rolling 12 months of history (April 2013 - March 2014) on the top 100 drugs by total sales and total prescriptions in the United States.
Following levothyroxine (with just more than 23 million prescriptions) as most prescribed drug in the United States were the cholesterol-lowering drug rosuvastatin (Crestor, AstraZeneca), at about 22.9 million; the proton pump inhibitor esomeprazole (Nexium, AstraZeneca), at roughly 19.3 million; the asthma medication albuterol (Ventolin HFA, GlaxoSmithKline), at about 17.5 million; and the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease medication fluticasone/salmeterol (Advair Diskus, GlaxoSmithKline), at more than 15.5 million.
Rounding out the top 10 most prescribed drugs for the period were the antidepressant duloxetine (Cymbalta, Eli Lilly), the antihypertensive valsartan (Diovan, Novartis), the attention deficit drug lisdexamfetamine dimesylate (Vyvanse, Shire), insulin glargine injection (Lantus Solostar, sanofi-aventis), and the antiepileptic pregabalin (Lyrica, Pfizer).
After aripiprazole, the next best selling drugs for the period April 2013 through March 2014 were esomeprazole magnesium (Nexium, AstraZeneca) at nearly $6.3 billion, and the arthritis drug adalimumab (Humira, AbbVie), at $5.9 billion.
Rounding out the top 10 in sales were Crestor ($5.5 billion), Advair Diskus ($5.1 billion), the arthritis drugs etanercept (Enbrel, Amgen; almost $4.9 billion) and infliximab (Remicade, Centocor; $4.2 billion), Cymbalta ($4.1 billion), the multiple sclerosis drug glatiramer acetate (Copaxone, Teva Pharm; almost $3.7 billion), and the neutropenia drug pegfilgrastim (Neulasta, Amgen; $3.6 billion).
| Table 1. Top 100 Drugs by Sales | ||
| Rank | Drug (Brand Name) | Sales Through March 2014 |
| 1 | Abilify | $6,885,243,368 |
| 2 | Nexium | $6,271,376,299 |
| 3 | Humira | $5,936,288,498 |
| 4 | Crestor | $5,502,148,010 |
| 5 | Advair Diskus | $5,112,576,549 |
| 6 | Enbrel | $4,896,267,318 |
| 7 | Remicade | $4,235,535,358 |
| 8 | Cymbalta | $4,095,537,942 |
| 9 | Copaxone | $3,679,837,035 |
| 10 | Neulasta | $3,634,919,067 |
| 11 | Lantus Solostar | $3,375,632,862 |
| 12 | Rituxan | $3,320,475,967 |
| 13 | Spiriva Handihaler | $3,140,602,715 |
| 14 | Januvia | $2,975,320,499 |
| 15 | Atripla | $2,894,627,347 |
| 16 | Lantus | $2,796,784,267 |
| 17 | Avastin | $2,742,284,655 |
| 18 | Lyrica | $2,611,451,728 |
| 19 | Oxycontin | $2,528,601,587 |
| 20 | Epogen | $2,346,224,521 |
| 21 | Celebrex | $2,342,549,444 |
| 22 | Truvada | $2,307,970,304 |
| 23 | Diovan | $2,190,542,692 |
| 24 | Gleevec | $1,995,042,989 |
| 25 | Herceptin | $1,971,724,243 |
| 26 | Lucentis | $1,917,919,037 |
| 27 | Namenda | $1,871,956,353 |
| 28 | Vyvanse | $1,848,814,801 |
| 29 | Zetia | $1,826,260,072 |
| 30 | Levemir | $1,775,037,064 |
| 31 | Symbicort | $1,733,830,589 |
| 32 | Sovaldi | $1,724,867,241 |
| 33 | Novolog Flexpen | $1,482,659,229 |
| 34 | Novolog | $1,409,680,368 |
| 35 | Tecfidera | $1,394,704,148 |
| 36 | Suboxone | $1,388,805,102 |
| 37 | Humalog | $1,310,236,982 |
| 38 | Xarelto | $1,263,697,546 |
| 39 | Seroquel XR | $1,251,615,894 |
| 40 | Viagra | $1,235,125,299 |
| 41 | Alimta | $1,205,717,422 |
| 42 | Victoza 3-Pak | $1,186,784,355 |
| 43 | Avonex | $1,184,476,004 |
| 44 | Nasonex | $1,180,165,756 |
| 45 | Cialis | $1,170,843,904 |
| 46 | Gilenya | $1,097,409,827 |
| 47 | Stelara | $1,083,660,282 |
| 48 | Flovent HFA | $1,078,422,967 |
| 49 | Prezista | $1,046,464,870 |
| 50 | Procrit | $1,037,298,436 |
| 51 | Isentress | $1,037,220,122 |
| 52 | Janumet | $1,028,179,032 |
| 53 | Renvela | $1,023,751,529 |
| 54 | Humalog Kwikpen | $1,003,100,788 |
| 55 | Orencia | $990,449,529 |
| 56 | Dexilant | $967,408,551 |
| 57 | Vesicare | $967,408,277 |
| 58 | Neupogen | $944,389,150 |
| 59 | Reyataz | $935,417,307 |
| 60 | Lunesta | $927,689,337 |
| 61 | Synthroid | $899,215,664 |
| 62 | Pradaxa | $862,604,444 |
| 63 | Zytiga | $861,683,197 |
| 64 | Benicar | $860,761,655 |
| 65 | Xolair | $859,052,353 |
| 66 | Avonex Pen | $849,256,894 |
| 67 | Vytorin | $846,602,646 |
| 68 | Invega Sustenna | $831,061,694 |
| 69 | Sensipar | $824,871,721 |
| 70 | Xgeva | $822,603,435 |
| 71 | Prevnar 13 | $821,372,081 |
| 72 | Evista | $815,315,970 |
| 73 | Aranesp | $814,017,366 |
| 74 | Betaseron | $792,093,855 |
| 75 | Stribild | $785,645,319 |
| 76 | Combivent Respimat | $768,925,543 |
| 77 | Xeloda | $761,832,629 |
| 78 | Afinitor | $761,796,538 |
| 79 | Ventolin HFA | $761,324,992 |
| 80 | Synagis | $755,220,544 |
| 81 | Zyvox | $732,206,096 |
| 82 | Bystolic | $719,917,435 |
| 83 | Sandostatin LAR | $708,264,105 |
| 84 | Complera | $696,270,123 |
| 85 | Benicar HCT | $692,128,910 |
| 86 | Treanda | $691,670,874 |
| 87 | Gardasil | $683,558,728 |
| 88 | Zostavax | $679,653,129 |
| 89 | Pristiq | $660,397,547 |
| 90 | Erbitux | $660,368,777 |
| 91 | Focalin XR | $647,720,027 |
| 92 | Tarceva | $646,108,218 |
| 93 | Cubicin | $643,649,546 |
| 94 | Strattera | $640,562,124 |
| 95 | Latuda | $639,903,393 |
| 96 | Velcade | $624,619,639 |
| 97 | Viread | $606,046,798 |
| 98 | Welchol | $603,644,260 |
| 99 | Nuvaring | $600,191,343 |
| 100 | Sprycel | $599,882,414 |
| Source: IMS National Prescription Audit, IMS Health. | ||
| Table 2. Top 100 Drugs by Monthly Prescription | ||
| Rank | Drug (Brand Name) | Total Prescriptions to March 2014 (New Prescriptions and Refills) |
| 1 | Synthroid | 23,025,870 |
| 2 | Crestor | 22,868,588 |
| 3 | Nexium | 19,327,244 |
| 4 | Ventolin HFA | 17,503,208 |
| 5 | Advair Diskus | 15,545,755 |
| 6 | Cymbalta | 14,487,742 |
| 7 | Diovan | 12,017,281 |
| 8 | Vyvanse | 9,914,366 |
| 9 | Lantus Solostar | 9,858,068 |
| 10 | Lyrica | 9,578,165 |
| 11 | Spiriva Handihaler | 9,498,944 |
| 12 | Lantus | 9,465,389 |
| 13 | Celebrex | 8,961,654 |
| 14 | Januvia | 8,753,604 |
| 15 | Abilify | 8,747,749 |
| 16 | Namenda | 8,290,471 |
| 17 | Viagra | 7,700,014 |
| 18 | Zetia | 7,558,029 |
| 19 | Cialis | 7,538,599 |
| 20 | Nasonex | 7,535,817 |
| 21 | Suboxone | 7,014,057 |
| 22 | Bystolic | 6,774,283 |
| 23 | Symbicort | 6,481,953 |
| 24 | Flovent HFA | 5,682,958 |
| 25 | Oxycontin | 5,604,176 |
| 26 | Levemir | 5,303,924 |
| 27 | Nuvaring | 5,025,087 |
| 28 | Dexilant | 4,963,772 |
| 29 | Benicar | 4,812,577 |
| 30 | Thyroid | 4,652,869 |
| 31 | Voltaren Gel | 4,522,268 |
| 32 | Proventil HFA | 4,463,319 |
| 33 | Xarelto | 4,298,882 |
| 34 | Premarin | 4,192,083 |
| 35 | Novolog | 4,110,590 |
| 36 | Tamiflu | 3,980,340 |
| 37 | Novolog Flexpen | 3,972,636 |
| 38 | Vesicare | 3,952,080 |
| 39 | Benicar HCT | 3,731,887 |
| 40 | Humalog | 3,726,949 |
| 41 | Afluria | 3,245,099 |
| 42 | Lumigan | 3,243,154 |
| 43 | Vytorin | 3,220,389 |
| 44 | Toprol-XL | 3,183,372 |
| 45 | Lunesta | 3,156,599 |
| 46 | Janumet | 3,143,830 |
| 47 | Ortho-Tri-Cy Lo 28 | 3,121,888 |
| 48 | Pristiq | 3,119,322 |
| 49 | Lo Loestrin Fe | 3,055,273 |
| 50 | Focalin XR | 3,036,103 |
| 51 | Travatan Z | 2,967,478 |
| 52 | Evista | 2,843,095 |
| 53 | Pataday | 2,716,789 |
| 54 | Combivent Respimat | 2,611,915 |
| 55 | Avodart | 2,610,028 |
| 56 | Pradaxa | 2,512,418 |
| 57 | Humalog Kwikpen | 2,467,999 |
| 58 | Seroquel XR | 2,423,659 |
| 59 | Strattera | 2,396,488 |
| 60 | Zostavax | 2,207,535 |
| 61 | Chantix | 2,149,709 |
| 62 | Exforge | 1,896,838 |
| 63 | Exelon | 1,892,680 |
| 64 | Humira | 1,882,887 |
| 65 | Loestrin 24 Fe | 1,860,833 |
| 66 | Victoza 3-Pak | 1,852,187 |
| 67 | Welchol | 1,808,313 |
| 68 | Combigan | 1,798,617 |
| 69 | Onglyza | 1,796,175 |
| 70 | Xopenex HFA | 1,792,808 |
| 71 | Detrol La | 1,734,896 |
| 72 | Premarin Vaginal | 1,701,245 |
| 73 | Minastrin 24 Fe | 1,699,982 |
| 74 | Enbrel | 1,621,584 |
| 75 | Dulera | 1,608,644 |
| 76 | Ranexa | 1,530,049 |
| 77 | Truvada | 1,523,457 |
| 78 | Alphagan P | 1,510,617 |
| 79 | Actonel | 1,480,998 |
| 80 | Azor | 1,463,567 |
| 81 | Effient | 1,438,820 |
| 82 | Viibryd | 1,428,488 |
| 83 | Levitra | 1,404,878 |
| 84 | Norvir | 1,387,510 |
| 85 | Lipitor | 1,381,007 |
| 86 | Tradjenta | 1,358,963 |
| 87 | Aggrenox | 1,349,620 |
| 88 | Patanol | 1,341,851 |
| 89 | Amitiza | 1,296,453 |
| 90 | Advair Hfa | 1,277,594 |
| 91 | Lotemax | 1,269,637 |
| 92 | Uloric | 1,228,713 |
| 93 | Ortho Evra 3 | 1,213,526 |
| 94 | Asmanex Twisthaler | 1,212,978 |
| 95 | Prempro Low Dose | 1,208,140 |
| 96 | Micardis | 1,200,868 |
| 97 | Atripla | 1,197,347 |
| 98 | Novolog Flxpen Mix 70/30 | 1,134,749 |
| 99 | Aciphex | 1,114,495 |
| 100 | Humulin N | 1,092,969 |
| Source: IMS National Prescription Audit, IMS Health. | ||
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Cite this: Top 100 Most Prescribed, Top Selling Drugs - Medscape - May 13, 2014.
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