Today, we will review the top ten most popular prescriptions in the US in 2019 to find out what health conditions bother US citizens more frequently. These drugs are quite affordable and can be ordered in an online pharmacy – however, you should consult a doctor before using them.
The Most Popular Medications 2019
Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
Atorvastatin is a hypocholesterolemic drug, which is prescribed to lower cholesterol, as well as apolipoprotein B. It is also used if the patient has an increased amount of triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Thus, the drug is prescribed for the treatment of primary hypercholesterolemia, combined hyperlipidemia, elevated triglycerides, dysbetalipoproteinemia (if diet therapy has failed).
Atorvastatin is indicated for patients with an increased risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks, strokes, angina pectoris, ischemia), in particular, with a hereditary predisposition to them, including diabetes, hypertension, and smoking.
Levothyroxine (Synthroid)
Levothyroxine is an artificially created analogue of thyroxine and an analogue of the thyroid hormone. It can be prescribed as replacement therapy, including life-long (after thyroid resection), as well as for euthyroid, diffuse toxic goiter, primary and secondary hypothyroidism, as well as for diagnosis during the thyroid suppression test.
The effect of the drug is akin to the activity of the endogenous hormone triiodothyronine, which is a catalyst in metabolic processes, stimulating cell growth and regenerative reactions. The effect of the drug is dose-dependent; it differs in quality. At low doses, the metabolism of proteins and lipids is stimulated, at medium doses it affects the increased oxygen demand of the body tissues, enhances the synthesis of nucleic proteins, improves tissue respiration, and activates the functioning of the CVS and central nervous system.
At large doses of the drug, the concentration of the hormone TSH decreases due to metabolic processes.
A week after the start of the therapy, the body develops a persistent effect, with diffuse goiter – in a few months. The effect of levothyroxine continues for another 1-2 weeks after stopping its intake.
Lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril)
Lisinopril is indicated for the treatment of various types of arterial hypertension, as well as a renovascular increase in blood pressure due to impaired renal function. Sometimes the drug is used as part of the treatment of heart failure.
Gabapentin (Neurontin)
Gabapentin is an antiepileptic. It is a cyclic analogue of GABA, which binds to highly specific brain centers. In addition to the anticonvulsant effect, the drug is able to stop neuropathic pain.
Gabapentin is available in capsule form.
It is indicated for use in basic therapy, as well as in the combined treatment regimen of epilepsy in adults and adolescent children. It is effective against resistant epilepsy in children from 8 to 12 years old. In addition, the drug is often used to eliminate neuropathic pains of a different nature that occur with postherpetic neuralgia, diabetic neuropathies, regional pain syndromes, post-stroke and phantom pains.
Amlodipine (Norvasc)
Amlodipine is intended for the treatment of hypertension in adults. It can be used alone, as well as in conjunction with other drugs. It is also used in the treatment of angina pectoris and vasospastic angina pectoris. The use of amlodipine is advisable in cases where treatment with nitrates and B-blockers was ineffective and did not give the desired result.
Amlodipine is used to treat hypertension in patients suffering from coronary heart disease, bronchial asthma and chronic heart failure.
Hydrocodone/acetaminophen (Vicodin, Norco)
Hydrocodone/acetaminophen is in a narcotic painkiller.
It is a less potent painkiller that enhances the effects of hydrocodone.
A combination of acetaminophen and hydrocodone is used to relieve moderate to severe pain.
Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
Amoxicillin is a penicillin antibiotic.
Sensitive microorganisms: Listerіa monocytogenes, Streptococcus pneumonіae, Nocardіa asteroіdes, Streptococcus pyogenes, Enterococcus faecalіs, Bacillus anthracіs, Streptococcus vіridians, Streptococcus agalactіae, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus saprophytіcus, Oagulase-negative staphylococci, Haemophіlus parainfluenzae, Moraxella catarrhalіs, Haemophilus іnfluenzae, Bordetella pertussіs, Helicobacter pylorі, Neisserіa gonorrhoeae, Vibrіo cholerae, Pasteurella multocіda, Borrelia burgdorferі, Treponema pallіdum, Leptospira іctterohaemorrhagiae, Clostrіdium, Peptostreptococcus magnus, Peptococcus nіger, Peptostreptococcus mіcros, Bacteroіdes fragilis, Capnocytophaga, Fusobacterіum, Eikenella corrodens, Porphyromonas, Prevotella,Corynebacterium, Enterococcus faecium, Klebsіella oxytoca, Escherіchia colі, Klebsіella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgarіs, Proteus mіrabilis, Salmonella, Shіgella.
Omeprazole (Prilosec)
Omeprazole is an antiulcer medicine. Its medicinal effect is associated with the ability to block the work of the proton pump of the H + / K + -ATPase. After ingestion, the capsule dissolves in the acidic contents of the stomach, releasing pellets that enter the duodenum and release active molecules under the influence of an alkaline medium. After absorption, with blood flow, they enter the gastric mucosa and enter the lumen of the tubules of the parietal cells, where there is an acidic medium (pH <3), and are oxidized to the active SA form – sulfenamide-omeprazole. In this form, they bind the SH-groups of H + / K + -ATPase in the tubules of the parietal cells and irreversibly block the enzyme. This violates the last stage of the process of formation of hydrochloric acid – an important component of gastric juice. Thus, the drug reduces the level of basal (on an empty stomach) and postprandial (stimulated) production of gastric juice (dose-dependent). The drug also reduces pepsin secretion, the total volume of gastric secretion. The medicine inhibits both night and day acid production. Omeprazole is concentrated in the lining cells of the glands of the stomach, has a cytoprotective effect (prevents the back diffusion of protons from the cavity of the stomach into its mucosa, stimulates the production of bicarbonates, mucus, and the multiplication of epithelial cells). In addition, it has a bactericidal effect on Helіcobacter pylorі, increases the susceptibility of bacteria to antibiotics, eradication therapy.
Metformin (Glucophage)
The medicine belongs to the group of hypoglycemic agents.
Metformin reduces the concentration of sugar but does not lead to hypoglycemia. The concentration of insulin under the influence of the drug does not increase and the hypoglycemic effect does not appear.
Peripheral receptors do not become more sensitive to insulin and glucose utilization by cells increases. The active component reduces hepatic glucose by inhibiting gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, and absorption of glucose in the intestinal tract.
The drug stimulates glycogen synthesis, the transport capacity of glucose transporters. In addition, it reduces the concentration of total cholesterol, lipids and triglycerides.
The drug stimulates weight loss in patients.
The drug is active in the prevention of diabetes with prediabetes.
Losartan (Cozaar)
Losartan is a hypotensive drug that is used to treat essential hypertension. This drug can significantly reduce the total number of fatal cases with cardiovascular diseases, myocardial infarction and stroke in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and arterial hypertension, and also protects the kidneys in patients with type II diabetes mellitus with proteinuria.