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Can you guess what Hawaii and New Jersey have in common? You probably know it’s not their climate; instead, these two states shared the same most prescribed drug in 2021. In the last 365 days—and always!—SingleCare provided discounts on the prescriptions that people need across the United States for a variety of chronic and acute conditions, from high blood pressure and hypothyroidism to urinary tract infections and strep throat.
We rounded up the most-filled prescriptions on SingleCare in 2021. Read on to find out the most common prescription in your state and why it may be prescribed so much in your area.
Most common prescriptions in 2021*
- Amlodipine
- Amoxicillin
- Clonazepam
- Ibuprofen
- Levothyroxine
- Lisinopril
- Prednisone
- Sildenafil citrate
- Vitamin D
Skip to most common prescriptions by state
1. Amlodipine (Norvasc)
Most popular prescription in Louisiana and Mississippi
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is in a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers (CCB) used to treat patients with hypertension (aka high blood pressure). The prescription may be used alone or in combination with other medications for individuals over the age of 6. It can also treat angina—chest pain caused by a reduced blood supply to the heart. These are two common conditions in the United States. Nearly half of all adults in the U.S. have high blood pressure and take meds to treat it. Another 9.8 million experience angina annually.
Calcium channel blockers, like amlodipine, are often the first-line treatment for hypertension for Black people. Over half of the Black population of the U.S. lives in the South, which could help explain its prevalence in these two states.
Additionally, high blood pressure is particularly prevalent in the South. According to the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, the neighboring states of Mississippi and Louisiana rank 2 and 6 respectively for highest rates of hypertension in the U.S. That could explain the popularity of the medication used to treat this condition in those locales.
2. Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
Most popular prescription in California, Illinois, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas, and Utah
In our 2020 list, amoxicillin (Amoxil) was the most prescribed drug in a single state: California. But for 2021, it made the list in five additional states. Amoxicillin is a penicillin-like antibiotic that is used to treat bacterial infections like pneumonia, bronchitis, ear infections, and strep throat. It works by stopping the bacteria that is causing the infection from growing.
Why the surge in popularity in 2021? “Amoxicillin is a ‘workhorse’ medication used in pediatrics for almost everything,” says Dustin Cotliar, MD, MPH, a board-certified emergency medicine physician with North Oaks Health System in Louisiana. As children went back to school and daycares after staying home for most of 2020, it’s possible that they got sick more often with these types of contagious illnesses.
On top of that, it could have been misprescribed to treat viral illnesses that rebounded after isolation from COVID-19, such as the common cold or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Amoxicillin isn’t effective against viral infections; however, the symptoms of viral infections can be similar to those of bacterial illnesses, such as cough, fever, and sore throat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 30% of amoxicillin prescriptions are unnecessary—and that can lead to antibiotic resistance. When in doubt, talk to your child’s pediatrician or your healthcare provider.
3. Clonazepam (Klonopin)
Most popular prescription in Tennessee
Clonazepam (Klonopin) is a long-acting benzodiazepine medication used to treat seizures and panic disorders. It works by calming electrical activity in the brain, and your nerves along with it. It was the most common prescription in Tennessee for 2021. “Many people find clonazepam effective for anxiety, and physicians like to prescribe it because it is postulated to be less addictive than its short-acting counterpart, Xanax,” says Je Ajayi, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist with Connected Minds in Smyrna, Georgia. Alprazolam, an anxiety treatment, was the most popular Rx for the state in 2020.
Tennessee ranked number one in the nation earlier this year for adults reporting anxiety or depression symptoms, according to National Center for Health Statistics surveys. In 2020, the state also had high numbers of adults battling these mental health conditions. That may help to explain the commonality of clonazepam and alprazolam.
4. Ibuprofen (Motrin)
Most popular prescription in Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey, Nevada, and Washington, D.C.
Odds are, you’ve taken ibuprofen (Motrin) more than once in your lifetime. It’s a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication that treats headaches, joint pain, fever, swelling, and a number of other everyday aches and pains.
The drug is available over the counter, but it can be prescribed at higher doses for people recovering from surgical procedures, or for those with chronic conditions, such as arthritis or endometriosis. Prescription Ibuprofen is available in 400mg, 600mg, or 800mg doses, whereas the nonprescription dose is 200mg. “It is generally well tolerated by patients, meaning it typically does not cause intolerable side effects,” says Dr. Ajayi.
Florida ranked second among all 50 states for the most outpatient surgical procedures. Georgia, Florida, and Hawaii all have high percentages of residents aged 65 and older. This age group is more likely to have osteoarthritis, which may explain why ibuprofen is often prescribed in those states.
5. Levothyroxine (Synthroid)
Most popular prescription in Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, Nebraska, Oregon, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
Levothyroxine (Synthroid) was the most prescribed drug in 13 states this year—the most of any Rx that made the list. This medication treats hypothyroidism, or underactive thyroid. Hypothyroidism is a common condition, affecting 5% of Americans over the age of 12, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It occurs when your thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland in your neck, doesn’t produce enough of the thyroid hormones that your body needs. If untreated, the condition can result in low thyroid levels that can cause health conditions, including depression, fatigue, weight gain, and many other issues.
“Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, one of the most common autoimmune diseases, is the most common cause of hypothyroidism,” says Dr. Cotliar. The disease causes your immune system to attack your thyroid. Hypothyroidism can also be caused by inflammation of the thyroid (thyroiditis), surgery or radiation treatment of the thyroid, and some medications. Some people are born with hypothyroidism without a known cause (congenital hypothyroidism). The condition is also more common in women and in people who are over the age of 60.
In 2020, levothyroxine was the top prescription in only two states. The rise in usage from 2020 to 2021 could be partially explained by the fact that the population in the U.S. is becoming older and more female—two groups that are more likely to develop hypothyroidism. There is also some evidence that COVID-19 can lead to temporary thyroid problems. The ongoing pandemic could have contributed to the rise in levothyroxine usage.
6. Lisinopril (Prinivil/Zestril)
Most prescribed drug in Alaska, Arkansas, Indiana, Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Vermont, and Washington
Lisinopril (Prinivil) is an ACE inhibitor used to treat high blood pressure. It’s considered a first-line treatment for high blood pressure because it’s effective with few side effects and it’s inexpensive. Lisinopril works by decreasing levels of a certain chemical called angiotensin II, which constricts your blood vessels. Lisinopril helps relax and widen blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily throughout the body.
This year, lisinopril is the third most common prescription, topping the list in 10 states. That’s down from 23 states in 2020. There were rumors in 2020, that ACE inhibitors like lisinopril could increase risk of COVID-19. Though they were since disproved, and evidence even showed they can have a protective effect, it could have led some people to abandon this prescription in favor of another medication.
Hypertension that is not treated can result in damage to your blood vessels, brain, kidneys, heart, and other organs. Treating high blood pressure with a medication such as lisinopril is important, because it helps prevent complications like heart disease, kidney failure, vision loss, and more. It may also lower the risk of death from high blood pressure and certain conditions, like diabetes. People with high blood pressure can make lifestyle changes, such as eating a low fat, low sodium diet, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight, in addition to taking lisinopril.
7. Prednisone
Most popular prescription in North Carolina
Prednisone is a corticosteroid medication that is commonly prescribed to treat chronic inflammatory conditions like asthma. And amid a global pandemic, prednisone is one of the drugs commonly prescribed by physicians to reduce the body’s immune response to the virus—which could explain why the medication is one of the top drugs this year. “Steroidal medications like prednisone are used to reduce inflammation,” says Dr. Cotliar. “They are a synthetic form of glucocorticoids, which are substances in the body involved in many functions, including suppressing the immune system.” In other words, this Rx can reduce the activity of the immune system to decrease inflammation in the body.
Though prednisone only ranked as the number one drug in North Carolina, the medication is widely used for many conditions. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, prednisone can also be used for arthritis, severe allergic reactions, multiple sclerosis, lupus, and conditions of the skin, lungs, kidneys, blood, eyes, gastrointestinal tract, and eyes. It may also be prescribed to treat the symptoms of certain types of cancer. It’s no wonder it made the list of most common prescriptions in 2021.
8. Sildenafil citrate (Viagra)
Most prescribed drug in Minnesota
Also known as Viagra, sildenafil citrate is a medication prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). ED affects sexual performance, and it’s common—about 10% of men per decade of life (e.g., 40% of men in their 40s), experience it. Sildenafil helps treat ED by increasing blood flow to the penis during sexual activity. It’s been widely prescribed since it dropped in cost when it went generic in 2017.
This medication made the list of most common prescriptions in 2019, dropped off in 2020, only to return this year. It’s renewed popularity could be due to people socializing more as COVID-19 rates dropped during the summer of 2021. Or, it could be due to the impact of the ongoing pandemic on mental health. Men with depression have a 39% higher chance of developing ED than those without depression. Minnesota ranked the 4th most depressed state in the nation recently, which could help to explain the increased usage there.
9. Vitamin D
Most popular prescription in Alabama, Connecticut, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, and West Virginia
Vitamin D is not a “drug” per se, but it was the second most common prescription in the United States in 2021—taking the top spot in 11 states. The vitamin is not only essential to normal growth and development, it plays an important role in a person’s immune, nerve, and muscle systems. Sunlight is one of the main ways your body produces vitamin D, in addition to getting the vitamin via your diet. But, exposure to too much sun can be harmful, and in some locales, especially during the winter months, getting enough sun is downright impossible.
So why are so many doctors prescribing the supplement? Many people need supplemental vitamin D because they are not spending enough time outdoors. There’s also some evidence that vitamin D could reduce the body’s inflammatory response to COVID-19, which could explain its increased popularity in 2021.
“Low levels of Vitamin D can cause depression among many other health conditions,” says Dr. Ajayi. Low vitamin D levels may be linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, and autoimmune conditions, though research is ongoing.
Most prescribed drug in every state
- Alaska: Lisinopril
- Alabama: Vitamin D
- Arkansas: Lisinopril
- Arizona: Levothyroxine
- California: Amoxicillin
- Colorado: Levothyroxine
- Connecticut: Vitamin D
- Delaware: Levothyroxine
- Florida: Ibuprofen
- Georgia: Ibuprofen
- Hawaii: Ibuprofen
- Iowa: Levothyroxine
- Idaho: Levothyroxine
- Illinois: Amoxicillin
- Indiana: Lisinopril
- Kansas: Levothyroxine
- Kentucky: Vitamin D
- Louisiana: Amlodipine
- Massachusetts: Lisinopril
- Maryland: Vitamin D
- Maine: Lisinopril
- Michigan: Vitamin D
- Minnesota: Sildenafil citrate
- Missouri: Amoxicillin
- Mississippi: Amlodipine
- Montana: Levothyroxine
- North Carolina: Prednisone
- North Dakota: Levothyroxine
- Nebraska: Levothyroxine
- Nevada: Ibuprofen
- New Hampshire: Lisinopril
- New Jersey: Ibuprofen
- New Mexico: Lisinopril
- New York: Vitamin D
- Ohio: Vitamin D
- Oklahoma: Lisinopril
- Oregon: Levothyroxine
- Pennsylvania: Vitamin D
- Rhode Island: Vitamin D
- South Carolina: Amoxicillin
- South Dakota: Levothyroxine
- Tennessee: Clonazepam
- Texas: Amoxicillin
- Utah: Amoxicillin
- Virginia: Vitamin D
- Vermont: Lisinopril
- Washington: Lisinopril
- Washington, D.C.: Ibuprofen
- Wisconsin: Levothyroxine
- West Virginia: Vitamin D
- Wyoming: Levothyroxine
Popular prescription drug information reflects the scripts most filled through SingleCare from Jan. 1, 2021 through Oct. 31, 2021, excluding opioids and weight-loss drugs.
