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In 2022, more than 20 states shared a popular Rx. Can you guess what it is? It’s the sunshine vitamin, or vitamin D. And it’s no wonder—about 42% of Americans are deficient in the essential vitamin. Responsible for keeping our bones strong and our immune systems robust, vitamin D mostly comes through our diet and sunlight. It’s so important to our health, providers often prescribe the supplement when levels are low.
In 2022, SingleCare provided discounts on the prescriptions that people need across the United States for a variety of chronic and acute conditions, from anxiety and asthma to ADHD and erectile dysfunction.
We rounded up the most popular prescription drugs on SingleCare by state in 2022. Wondering how your state ranked? Read on to find out, plus why it may be so commonly prescribed in each location.
Skip to most common prescriptions list by state
1. Albuterol HFA (ProAir HFA)
Most popular prescription in Alaska and North Dakota
Albuterol HFA is a type of rescue inhaler that is used to treat or prevent bronchospasms (when the muscles lining your airways tighten, such as an asthma attack), says Suzanne Soliman, Pharm.D., chief health officer at the Accreditation Council for Medical Affairs and founder of Pharmacist Moms Group.
Albuterol HFA is typically prescribed when a person has symptoms like trouble breathing, wheezing, or coughing from conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), or other lung issues, Dr. Soliman explains. And it can also be used to prevent bronchospasm from exercise-induced asthma. It works as a bronchodilator, relaxing the muscles that surround the airways (bronchi) so that you can breathe better and clear mucus from the lungs easier.
According to the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 9% of the population in Alaska and North Dakota have asthma. While these numbers aren’t the highest in the nation, they could explain the reason why Albuterol HFA was so often prescribed in these two states in 2022.
2. Alprazolam (Xanax)
Most popular prescription in Tennessee
Alprazolam didn’t make our list in 2021, but this year, it was the most commonly prescribed drug in Tennessee. And although it wasn’t the top drug elsewhere, alprazolam ranked top 10 in several other states. Alprazolam, generic for Xanax, is primarily used to treat anxiety, says Jared Heathman, MD, a board-certified psychiatrist at Your Family Psychiatrist in Houston, TX.
Anxiety has spiked since the pandemic began. In fact, according to the World Health Organization, anxiety and depression have increased 25% worldwide, explaining the rise in prescriptions for the drug in the United States.
Alprazolam is an intermediate-onset and short-acting benzodiazepine used to treat anxiety disorders and panic disorder, but may also be prescribed for depression, agoraphobia (fear of open spaces), and premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Dr. Heathman says that alprazolam isn’t designed for long-term use or anxiety that lasts all day; rather, it’s more commonly used to treat brief periods of anxiety, such as a panic attack. Medications like SSRIs would likely be better to help long-term anxiety symptoms.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, Tennessee ranked near the top among all 50 states in 2022 for anxiety and depression–with nearly 40% of adults experiencing symptoms. That fact could explain why alprazolam was the most commonly prescribed drug in this state in 2022.
3. Amlodipine (Norvasc)
Most popular prescription in Louisiana and Mississippi
Amlodipine (Norvasc) is a calcium channel blocker (CCB), a class of medication that is used to treat high blood pressure and angina (chest pain). According to the CDC, almost half of American adults have high blood pressure or are taking medication to treat it. And about 10 million experience angina annually, so it’s no wonder the medication made our top 10 list.
The highest concentration of individuals with high blood pressure reside in the South, which may explain why it’s a popular drug in Louisiana and Mississippi–it also ranked in the top 10 of many other Southern states.
4. Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
Most popular prescription in California, Florida, Oklahoma, and Texas
In 2022, the antibiotic amoxicillin was the most popular drug in four states. Amoxicillin is commonly prescribed to treat bacterial infections such as skin infections, urinary tract infections, lower respiratory tract infections, and ear, nose, and throat infections, according to Erika Gray, Pharm.D., the chief medical officer and co-founder of Toolbox Genomics. If your child has ever been prescribed a pink, bubble-gum flavored liquid antibiotic, that’s amoxicillin. It’s a favorite among pediatricians because of its low cost and minimal side effects.
Currently, there is an amoxicillin shortage due to supply issues, so other antibiotics may be used in its place. The reduced availability of the drug could be why only four states ranked number one for the drug in 2022 versus six in 2021. But amoxicillin traditionally ranks high on the list of antibiotics prescribed by doctors. Dr. Gray says that amoxicillin is less damaging to the gut microbiome than other antibiotics.
“When antibiotics are taken, they do not differentiate between good and bad bacteria in the body. Amoxicillin is considered a narrow range antibiotic in that it has killing activity on a smaller range of bacteria, meaning it will kill less of the good bacteria,” she explains.
5. Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall)
Most popular prescription in Colorado, Utah, and Washington
Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine coupons
While amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) is FDA approved to treat narcolepsy, it’s more commonly used to treat its other FDA-approved indication: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), says Dr. Heathman. ADHD is a common childhood neurodevelopmental disorder that can last into adulthood. Symptoms include difficulty paying attention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.
Prior to COVID-19, laws required an in-person appointment before being prescribed stimulants for ADHD. But due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) relaxed these laws. Because people have more care options, it’s possible the med is being prescribed more than before. Currently, there is an Adderall shortage in the United States.
Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine was the most-prescribed drug in three states this year, but in 2021, it wasn’t even on the list. The uptick in prescriptions could be due to the drug’s increased accessibility via telehealth during the pandemic.
6. Ibuprofen (Advil)
Most prescribed drug in Nevada
If you’ve ever had a headache, sore throat, or pulled muscle, you’ve probably reached for a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (Advil). Available over-the-counter as 200 mg tablets or liquid gels, ibuprofen is commonly used to relieve minor aches and pains and reduce fevers, says Dr. Soliman. It’s also available by prescription in doses of 400 mg, 600 mg, and 800 mg, and can also be used to treat conditions like arthritis and menstrual pain.
Ibuprofen can be taken every four to six hours, but don’t take it on an empty stomach—doing so can increase your risk of stomach upset (or even cause a stomach ulcer), advises Dr. Soliman. Don’t take it for longer than a week without being monitored by your healthcare provider.
Ibuprofen ranked as a top 10 drug in most states, and came in first in Nevada. That may be because 1 in 4 Nevada residents have some form of arthritis. Because of the opiate crisis, many practitioners are encouraging patients to use non-opioid pain relievers such as ibuprofen or Tylenol for daily pain.
7. Levothyroxine (Synthroid)
Most popular prescription in Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, South Dakota, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming
Ranking as the most commonly prescribed medication in 11 states, levothyroxine is a medication that’s FDA approved to treat hypothyroidism, or underproduction of thyroid hormone. Thyroid hormone is responsible for regulating how you use energy, and low levels slow down many important functions in the body. If hypothyroidism is not treated, it can lead to fatigue, weight gain, sensitivity to cold temperatures, dry skin, thinning hair, joint/muscle pain, decreased heart rate, irregular menstrual cycle, fertility issues, and depression.
According to the National Institutes of Health, 5% of individuals ages 12 years and older in the United States have hypothyroidism, which is more common in women and adults over the age of 60. The drug is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the nation, with 123 million prescriptions for levothyroxine dispensed in 2016. It is also used off-label for things like low energy and goiters (enlarged thyroid), adds Dr. Soliman, and it may be prescribed in conjunction with thyroid cancer treatment.
8. Lisinopril (Prinivil)
Most prescribed drug in Iowa, Indiana, and New Hampshire
Lisinopril is in a class of drugs called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors that are used to treat high blood pressure, or hypertension. It may also be used along with other medications to treat heart failure. When untreated, high blood pressure can result in damage to the brain, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, and other areas, leading to cardiovascular disease, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, vision loss, and more.
The medication works by decreasing levels of angiotensin II, a chemical that constricts blood vessels, enabling the heart to pump blood more easily. Nearly half of adults in the United States have hypertension, which is more common in men than in women.
Last year, lisinopril topped the list in 10 states, but in 2022, that dropped down to three: Iowa, Indiana, and New Hampshire. Ranking near the average of states nationwide for hypertension prevalence, Iowa, Indiana, and New Hampshire have rates of hypertension at 32%, 35%, and 31%.
9. Sildenafil citrate (Viagra)
Most popular prescription in Minnesota and Oregon
Originally developed to treat pulmonary hypertension, sildenafil citrate, or Viagra, is now commonly prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction (ED). People with the condition have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection. ED is common, occurring in 30 million men in the United States. Sildenafil helps with ED by increasing blood flow to the penis to stimulate an erection during sexual activity, but it does not cure ED, and it does not increase sexual desire. Viagra is available in 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg and is generally taken an hour before sexual intercourse.
Men with Type 2 diabetes are two to three times more likely to have ED than men who don’t have diabetes. It’s also more common in individuals with heart conditions, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, multiple sclerosis, anxiety, and depression. In 2021, sildenafil ranked first in Minnesota, a trend that continued into 2022—this could be due to the fact that Type 2 diabetes rates are high in the state. This year, the drug was number one in Oregon as well, a state that has a nearly 11% rate of Type 2 diabetes among adults.
10. Vitamin D
Most popular prescription in Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia
Vitamin D moved from the second-most common prescription in 2021 to the number one spot in 2022 in 21 states and Washington D.C. And it’s no surprise—according to research, over 40% of the population in the United States is deficient in the vitamin, which is obtained from sunlight and our diet.
Vitamin D is important for bone health, cognitive health, and has been linked to cancer prevention, says Dr. Gray. “Vitamin D is also known as the sunshine vitamin because it is produced when skin is exposed to sunlight,” Dr. Gray says. “The increase in vitamin D deficiency has been associated with the rise in use of technology, where people do not spend enough time outdoors.”
Exposure to UVB rays allows the body to form Vitamin D. Where you live can affect the amount of UVB rays that the skin absorbs. UVB is harder to absorb in northern latitudes—specifically, above the 37th degree latitude (where many of the above states are located)—leading to an increased precedence of Vitamin D deficiency.
Most prescribed drug in every state
- Alaska: Albuterol HFA
- Alabama: Vitamin D
- Arkansas: Vitamin D
- Arizona: Levothyroxine
- California: Amoxicillin
- Colorado: Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
- Connecticut: Vitamin D
- Delaware: Vitamin D
- Florida: Levothyroxine
- Georgia: Vitamin D
- Hawaii: Vitamin D
- Iowa: Lisinopril
- Idaho: Levothyroxine
- Illinois: Vitamin D
- Indiana: Lisinopril
- Kansas: Levothyroxine
- Kentucky: Vitamin D
- Louisiana: Amlodipine
- Massachusetts: Vitamin D
- Maryland: Vitamin D
- Maine: Levothyroxine
- Michigan: Vitamin D
- Minnesota: Sildenafil citrate
- Missouri: Vitamin D
- Mississippi: Amlodipine
- Montana: Levothyroxine
- North Carolina: Vitamin D
- North Dakota: Albuterol HFA
- Nebraska: Levothyroxine
- Nevada: Ibuprofen
- New Hampshire: Lisinopril
- New Jersey: Vitamin D
- New Mexico: Levothyroxine
- New York: Vitamin D
- Ohio: Vitamin D
- Oklahoma: Levothyroxine
- Oregon: Sildenafil citrate
- Pennsylvania: Vitamin D
- Rhode Island: Vitamin D
- South Carolina: Vitamin D
- South Dakota: Levothyroxine
- Tennessee: Alprazolam
- Texas: Levothyroxine
- Utah: Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
- Virginia: Vitamin D
- Vermont: Levothyroxine
- Washington: Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
- Washington, D.C.: Vitamin D
- Wisconsin: Levothyroxine
- West Virginia: Vitamin D
- Wyoming: Levothyroxine
Popular prescription drug information reflects the scripts most filled through SingleCare by location from Jan. 1, 2022 through Oct. 31, 2022, excluding opioids and weight-loss drugs.
Prescription drug use by state year over year
Since we started reporting on the most popular medications by location, there have been a few medications that are consistently most-filled in the 50 U.S. states, plus Washington D.C. Since 2020, the following have gained top honors in at least one state:
- Amoxicillin, a common antibiotic
- Ibuprofen
- Blood pressure medications amlodipine and lisinopril
- Levothyroxine for thyroid health
- Vitamin D
Then, a few other medications drop on and off the list, such as the asthma medication albuterol, amphetamine/dextroamphetamine for ADHD, alprazolam and clonazepam for anxiety, prednisone steroid medication, and sildenafil for erectile dysfunction. These prescriptions treat some of the most common medical conditions in the U.S., so it makes sense they would be filled in certain locations again and again.
