In this article we are going to list the 10 most prescribed medication in the world. For a detailed coverage of this topic and a more comprehensive list please take a look at the 25 most prescribed medication in the world.
10. Gabapentin
Total prescriptions: 49,961,066
Gabapentin is the most popular drug used for the treatment of epilepsy and nerve pain caused by various conditions such as shingles or diabetes. It is sold under the brand name Neurontin and is manufactured by Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE).
9. Losartan
Total prescriptions: 54,815,411
Blood pressure medication is increasingly used which is why several drugs treating the illness are among the most prescribed drugs in the world. Generally, the drug is taken once or twice a day, in either 50mg or 100 mg. It is sold under the brand name Cozaar which is manufactured by pharma giant Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK).
8. Omeprazole
Total prescriptions: 56,300,064
Omeprazole is a medication which is used to treat indigestion and heartburn, increasingly common illnesses as the consumption of unhealthy food combined with lack of activity continues to negatively impact health of people around the world, while also being a common cause of increasing obesity levels. It is sold under the brand names Losec and Prilosec, both manufactured by AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN). In fact, in 2013, AstraZeneca PLC (NASDAQ:AZN) was awarded $76 million for Prilosec in damages from Apotex, after the latter infringed patents.
7. Metoprolol
Total prescriptions: 66,413,692
Metoprolol is a beta blocker and is used for the treatment and prevention of high blood pressure, arrhythmia, strokes, heart diseases and heart attacked. It is sold under the brand name Lopressor, which is manufactured by Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS).
6. Albuterol
Total prescriptions: 61,948,347
Albuterol is easily one of the most well-known medications out there, and is a lifesaver for those who face difficulties in breathing, particularly asthmatic patients. It is most well-known by the brand name Ventolin, which is owned by GlaxoSmithKline plc (NYSE:GSK). Another usage of the drug is to treat high blood potassium levels and is generally administered through an inhaler or nebulizer, but can also be taken in pill, intravenous or injection forms.
5. Amlodipine
Total prescriptions: 69,786,684
Amlodipine is one of the multiple blood pressure treating drugs among the most prescribed medications in the world. Manufactured by Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE), Amlodipine is sold under the brand name Norvasc and is administered orally.
4. Lisinopril
Total prescriptions: 88,597,017
Lisinopril is administered in the treatment of high blood pressure, heart attacks and heart failures, and can also be used to prevent kidney issues in people suffering from diabetes mellitus. The drug had more than 88 million prescriptions in the United States alone in 2020. Currently, the drug is available as a generic across the world and is taken orally.
3. Metformin
Total prescriptions: 92,591,486
Diabetes is one of the main scourges of society today, and it is no surprise that Metformin is one of the most prescribed medications in the world, as it is used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, especially people who are overweight. One of its most famous brand names is Glucophage, manufactured by Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK).
2. Levothyroxine
Total prescriptions: 98,970,640
Thyroid hormone deficiency is one of the most common illnesses in the world, and Levothyroxine is used for treatment of this condition. The drug can also be used for the prevention and treatment of some types of thyroid tumors. While various brand names for the drug are available, generics are more popular though medical associations have declared that switching from brand name to generics and vice versa is not advisable.
1. Atorvastatin
Total prescriptions: 114,509,814
Easily topping the list of the 25 most prescribed drugs in the world is Atorvastatin, generally sold under the brand name Lipitor, which is owned by Pfizer Inc. (NYSE:PFE). The medicine is sold to prevent cardiovascular diseases and treat abnormal lipid levels, and is administered orally. It is on the list of the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines.
Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily enewsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below. You can also check out our articles on 20 Countries With the Most Skyscrapers and 30 Most Unstable Countries in the World.
