More than half of Americans have to take some sort of prescription medication every day.
Whether to treat an underlying condition, ease pain, or prevent an issue, many of us know what it’s like to rely on prescription medications. While there is so much prescription medication use, there are a few that are the most common medications.
So, which medications are the most widely used?
Keep reading to learn about the 5 most common medications and what they do!
What Are the Most Common Medications?
There are over 1,400 drugs that are approved by the FDA, but there are a few that are used much more than others.
1. Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
Lipitor is in the drug class “Statins.”
This medicine is commonly used to treat high cholesterol. It’s one of the most commonly prescribed Statins, and the generic price has continued to drop. Lipitor sells for an average rate of $18.00.
2. AN 627
AN 627 are round white pills that are commonly used to treat pain.
This medicine is made up of Tramadol (Ultram) and hydrochloride. Hydrochlorides are a type of salt that converts amines from insoluble to water-soluble. These pills are only available in 50 mg doses.
Common side effects of AN 627 include…
- Nausea and vomiting
- Dry mouth
- Stomach cramps
- Indigestion
- Vertigo
- Headache
- Constipation
- Dizziness
Along with these side effects, consumers of AN 627 may also experience a significant decrease in alertness, body numbness, and dizziness.
3. Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Levoxyl, Unithroid)
This medicine is in the drug class “Thyroxines.”
Levothyroxine is a thyroid hormone that is synthetically made. Its purpose is to improve thyroid deficiency. While there are many brands and generic options available, they aren’t interchangeable.
This medication is commonly sold for around $20.00.
4. Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
Lisinopril is in the drug class, “ACE Inhibitors.”
This medication is used to treat high blood pressure. It can also be combined with other medications to treat heart failure. This was the third ACE Inhibitor to become available.
Many people find that this medication is more convenient than comparable medications. This is because the pill is longer-acting, which means the pill only needs to be taken once per day instead of two or three times.
The average price for Lisinopril is $6.00
5. Gabapentin (Neurontin)
Gabapentin is in the drug class “Anti-epileptics.”
This is a common medication for adults with epilepsy. It is used to treat seizures as well as nerve pain. Gabapentin isn’t considered an opioid, however, it does have a history of being abused.
Abusing Gabapentin can cause death from overdose. Gabapentin is typically sold for $13.00.
Do You Use a Common Medication?
There are so many drugs that are approved by the FDA and are used by people every day.
Most of these medications are used to prevent or treat common conditions such as high cholesterol, blood pressure, or epilepsy. These medications are necessary for allowing people to go about their lives normally with the conditions they have.
Are one of these most common medications ones that you use regularly?
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