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People in the U.S. fill more than 6 billion prescriptions per year, so it’s only natural that we start to see a few similarities in certain states. In 2023, nine drugs made our annual list of top prescriptions by state, with vitamin D being the most filled. With two out of five Americans deficient in the nutrient, this ranking makes a lot of sense. Other medications that top the list treat conditions like high blood pressure, erectile dysfunction, or common infections. And, as always SingleCare was there to help you save when filling these common Rx.
Keep reading to find out which medications were filled with SingleCare the most in your state in 2023. (Skip to the prescription list by state.)
1. Vitamin D (Drisdol)
Most popular prescription in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia
Vitamin D was the most commonly filled prescription this year, ranking first in 19 states and Washington D.C. Known as the “sunshine vitamin,” because the body can produce it after sun exposure, vitamin D is essential for bone health, nerve and muscle function, and immune system function. Although the supplement is available over the counter, it is also available in higher doses as a prescription.
Vitamin D is also one of the most common nutrient deficiencies in America, so it’s no wonder it continues to be such a popular prescription. Vitamin D deficiency occurs when you don’t get enough vitamin D through the sun or foods like fatty fish, egg yolk, mushrooms, and fortified milk or cereal. Because deficiencies in this vitamin can lead to muscle cramps and weakness, depression, and fatigue, it’s vital to get your recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin D (600 IU daily for individuals ages one to 70).
Sunlight is the primary source of vitamin D, produced in response to UVB rays. In northern geographical regions such as many of the states listed above (located above the 37th-degree latitude), these rays are more difficult to absorb, contributing to a higher prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and the need for supplementation.
2. Levothyroxine (Synthroid)
Most popular prescription in Arizona, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Ohio, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming
In 2023, levothyroxine continued to be one of the most commonly filled medications with SingleCare, ranking number one in 13 states. Levothyroxine (a thyroid hormone) is FDA approved to treat hypothyroidism, a condition in which the body produces less thyroid hormone than your body needs. This can result in symptoms such as fatigue, cold intolerance, weight gain, irregular menstruation, thinning hair, decreased heart rate, depression, and joint or muscle pain.
An estimated 11.7% of American adults have hypothyroidism, with women and individuals older than 60 most at risk. Treatment usually consists of taking levothyroxine daily to replace the missing thyroid hormone. Levothyroxine is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in America, so it’s no surprise that it came first in so many states.
3. Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall)
Most popular prescription in Alaska, Colorado, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin
Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine coupons
Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine (Adderall) is a combination of two central nervous system (CNS) stimulants. It’s FDA approved to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms, including inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. It is also less commonly used to treat narcolepsy, a sleep disorder causing intense daytime sleepiness and rapid-onset sleep attacks.
ADHD is a neurological disorder typically diagnosed in childhood (although the condition usually persists in adulthood). Nearly 10% of children ages 6 to 11 have been diagnosed with the condition at some point. But in recent years, more adults are being diagnosed with ADHD—likely due to increased awareness and evolving diagnostic criteria.
That could be why amphetamine/dextroamphetamine is steadily climbing in popularity. The drug did not make the list of top drugs in 2021, but in 2022, it was the most commonly prescribed Rx in three states. This upward trend continued in 2023, with amphetamine/dextroamphetamine ranking number one in five states—despite there being a shortage of Adderall throughout the U.S.
4. Amoxicillin (Amoxil)
Most popular prescription in California, Florida, Hawaii, and Texas
Amoxicillin is an antibiotic in the penicillin family that is effective against a broad range of bacterial infections. It is often used to treat respiratory illnesses such as bronchitis or pneumonia as well as ear infections and urinary tract infections. It’s inexpensive and generally has mild side effects, which makes it a popular choice among healthcare providers. In 2022 and 2023, it was the most commonly prescribed drug in four states (versus six in 2021).
Amoxicillin is one of the most commonly prescribed children’s antibiotics because of its wide range of uses. However, since 2022, there has been a shortage of the powder form of amoxicillin (the kind used to make the oral suspension), so other antibiotics may be prescribed at a greater frequency despite its efficacy—explaining the decrease in popularity in the past two years.
5. Sildenafil citrate (Viagra)
Most popular prescription in Michigan, Minnesota, and Oregon
Sildenafil citrate, or Viagra, was developed as a medication for angina (chest pain), but it became a revolutionary treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition characterized by the inability to get or maintain an erection.
About 52% of men in the United States ages 40 to 70 experience some degree of erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil’s effectiveness has made it one of the most commonly prescribed ED medications. For best results, it should be taken about an hour before sexual activity, although it’s effective for 30 minutes to four hours. While it won’t increase libido or cure ED, Viagra increases blood flow to the penis to aid in sexual performance when used along with sexual stimulation.
ED is more common in individuals with certain health conditions, such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. Medications such as antidepressants and prostate cancer drugs can also cause it. In the three states where this was the top drug, the most common chronic health conditions are high cholesterol (a contributor to heart disease) and hypertension, both of which are associated with ED.
6. Gabapentin (Neurontin, Horizant)
Most popular prescription in Connecticut and Virginia
Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant used to treat seizures in individuals with epilepsy, as well as nerve pain caused by shingles. It may also be used to treat restless legs syndrome, a condition causing an uncontrollable urge to move the legs, especially at night. And it is sometimes used off-label for conditions like anxiety and insomnia—which affect 31% and 20% of Americans, respectively.
Approximately 1.2% of the population in the United States has epilepsy. Epileptic seizures can cause breathing pauses that can cause blood oxygen to drop to dangerous levels and abnormal heart rhythms or cardiac arrest, possibly resulting in sudden death. That’s why treating the condition with a medication like gabapentin is so important.
Gabapentin hasn’t made our top 10 list before, but it ranked first in two states this year. Prescriptions for gabapentin have increased steadily in recent years, which may be why it was the top prescription in Connecticut and Virginia.
7. Lisinopril (Zestril)
Most popular prescription in New Hampshire, Oklahoma
Lisinopril is an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, a type of medication used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure). It can also be used in combination with other drugs as a treatment protocol for heart failure. Lisinopril can also be used to improve survival after a heart attack. This medication works by relaxing and widening the blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump.
High blood pressure affects nearly half of adults in the United States. If untreated, it can lead to heart damage (including coronary artery disease, heart failure, or stroke), erectile dysfunction, and damage to the brain, kidneys, or eyes.
Lisinopril has made our top drugs list since 2020, when it was the number one drug overall, placing first in 23 states. This year, it ranked first in only two states but came in second in 13, so it continues to be one of the most commonly filled drugs in America.
8. Albuterol HFA (Ventolin HFA)
Most popular prescription in North Dakota
Albuterol HFA is a rescue inhaler used to treat and manage respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD; which includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema). It may also be prescribed for exercise-induced bronchospasm (when the muscles lining your airways tighten and cause the airways to narrow). Albuterol HFA is a short-acting bronchodilator, which means it helps open the airways quickly and relieve breathing difficulty, wheezing, and coughing.
9. Atorvastatin (Lipitor)
Most popular prescription in Indiana
Atorvastatin (Lipitor) belongs to a class of drugs called statins, the most effective drugs available to treat high cholesterol. At higher doses, it is considered a “high-intensity” statin, meaning it can lower low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol—also known as the “bad” cholesterol—by 50% or more. The only statin that’s slightly more effective than atorvastatin is rosuvastatin (Crestor).
Individuals with obesity or Type 2 diabetes are more likely to have high cholesterol, which increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Because high cholesterol doesn’t cause symptoms, it’s important to get your levels checked with a blood test as recommended by your healthcare provider. Of all the statins, atorvastatin is the most commonly prescribed. It is typically dosed between 10 to 40 mg daily, with a maximum dose of 80 mg per day.
This is the first year that atorvastatin made SingleCare’s top 10 list, ranking first in only one state: Indiana. Over 11% of adults in the Hoosier State have diabetes, and over 35% have obesity.
Most-filled drug in every state
- Alabama: Vitamin D
- Alaska: Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
- Arizona: Levothyroxine
- Arkansas: Vitamin D
- California: Amoxicillin
- Colorado: Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
- Connecticut: Gabapentin
- Delaware: Vitamin D
- Florida: Amoxicillin
- Georgia: Vitamin D
- Hawaii: Amoxicillin
- Idaho: Levothyroxine
- Illinois: Vitamin D
- Indiana: Atorvastatin
- Iowa: Levothyroxine
- Kansas: Levothyroxine
- Kentucky: Vitamin D
- Louisiana: Vitamin D
- Maine: Levothyroxine
- Maryland: Vitamin D
- Massachusetts: Vitamin D
- Michigan: Sildenafil citrate
- Minnesota: Sildenafil citrate
- Mississippi: Vitamin D
- Missouri: Vitamin D
- Montana: Levothyroxine
- Nebraska: Levothyroxine
- Nevada: Levothyroxine
- New Hampshire: Lisinopril
- New Jersey: Vitamin D
- New Mexico: Levothyroxine
- New York: Vitamin D
- North Carolina: Vitamin D
- North Dakota: Albuterol HFA
- Ohio: Levothyroxine
- Oklahoma: Lisinopril
- Oregon: Sildenafil citrate
- Pennsylvania: Vitamin D
- Rhode Island: Vitamin D
- South Carolina: Vitamin D
- South Dakota: Levothyroxine
- Tennessee: Vitamin D
- Texas: Amoxicillin
- Utah: Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
- Vermont: Levothyroxine
- Virginia: Gabapentin
- Washington: Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
- Washington, D.C.: Vitamin D
- West Virginia: Vitamin D
- Wisconsin: Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine
- Wyoming: Levothyroxine
Popular prescription drug information reflects the scripts most filled through SingleCare by location from Jan. 1, 2023, through Oct. 31, 2023, excluding opioids.
Prescription drug use by state year over year
Since 2020, several medications have ranked in the top-filled prescriptions year-over-year. The following drugs have made the list in at least one of the 50 U.S. states and Washington D.C., including:
- Vitamin D, an essential nutrient
- Amoxicillin, an antibiotic used for certain types of bacterial infections
- Lisinopril, an ACE inhibitor used to treat hypertension
- Levothyroxine, a synthetic thyroid hormone used to treat hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
Other top medications that have ranked first in the past but dropped off the list this year include the pain reliever ibuprofen, the anti-anxiety medication alprazolam, and the steroid medication prednisone. Will they make a reappearance on our 2024 list? Stay tuned!
Sources
- Total number of medical prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. from 2009 to 2022, Statista (2023)
- Prevalence and correlates of vitamin D deficiency in US adults, Nutrition Research Reviews (2011)
- Albuterol (Inhalation Route), The Mayo Clinic (2023)
- Bronchospasm, The Cleveland Clinic (2022)
- Amoxicillin, National Library of Medicine (2023)
- FDA drug shortages, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (2023)
- Dextroamphetamine and amphetamine, National Library of Medicine (2019)
- Data and statistics about ADHD, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023)
- ADHD diagnostic trends: Increased recognition or overdiagnosis? Missouri Medicine (2022)
- Guidelines for the management of high blood cholesterol, Endotext (2022)
- About cholesterol, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023)
- Statins utilization trends and expenditures in the U.S. before and after the implementation of the 2013 ACC/AHA guidelines, Saudi Pharmaceutical Journal (2023)
- Atorvastatin (oral route), The Mayo Clinic (2023)
- Where diabetes is most prevalent in the U.S., Statista (2019)
- Adult obesity prevalence maps, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2023)
- Gabapentin, National Library of Medicine (2021)
- Epilepsy fast facts, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (2023)
- Sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020)
- Gabapentin for off-label use: Evidence-based or cause for concern?, Sage Journal (2018)
- Notes from the field: Trends in gabapentin detection and involvement in drug overdose deaths — 23 states and the District of Columbia, 2019–2020, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (2022)
- Hypothyroidism, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (2021)
- Hypothyroidism prevalence in the United States: A retrospective study combining National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Claims Data, 2009–2019s, Journal of the Endocrine Society (2022)
- Levothyroxine use in the United States 2008-2018, JAMA Internal Medicine (2021)
- High blood pressure dangers: Hypertension’s effects on your body, The Mayo Clinic (2022)
- Sildenafil: from angina to erectile dysfunction to pulmonary hypertension and beyond, Nature Reviews Drug Discovery (2006)
- Erectile dysfunction, The Mayo Clinic (2022)
- Erectile dysfunction, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (2022)
- Sildenafil, National Library of Medicine (2023)
- Symptoms & causes of erectile dysfunction, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (2017)
- Prevalence of multiple chronic conditions by U.S. state and territory, 2017, PLoS One (2020)
- Why micronutrients matter, Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (2022)
- Vitamin D, National Institutes of Health (2022)
- Vitamin D deficiency, The Cleveland Clinic (2022)
- Vitamin D, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2023)
- Time for more vitamin D, Harvard Medical School (2008)
