Ever wondered what Philadelphia and New Orleans have in common? They both have passionate professional football fans: Philadelphians love their Eagles, and you might be viewed with suspicion if you live in New Orleans and don\u2019t cheer for the Saints. Both cities host some of the most raucous parades in the country, and both have notable French influences in the architecture and culture.<\/p>\n
Turns out, they have something else in common: the most prescribed drugs among SingleCare users in both cities is an antihypertensive medication known as amlodipine besylate. If you\u2019re wondering why, read on to learn more about the popularity of this medication in those cities, as well as other commonly prescribed medications in the 50 largest cities in the United States.<\/span><\/p>\n Skip to city-by-city breakdown <\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Most prescribed drug in Dallas; San Diego; San Jose, Calif.; Arlington, Texas; Oakland, Calif.<\/b><\/p>\n Get amoxicillin coupon<\/a><\/p>\n If you\u2019ve raised children, you\u2019ve almost certainly filled a prescription or two (or more!) of amoxicillin. It\u2019s a very common antibiotic intended to knock out bacterial infections like bronchitis or strep throat. It\u2019s in the same class of drugs as penicillin and can be taken in capsule, tablet, or suspension form.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s commonly prescribed for childhood ailments\u2014and some experts believe that it\u2019s overprescribed, contributing to the<\/span> development of drug resistant bacteria<\/span><\/a>, a growing issue of concern in the healthcare arena. \u201cIt\u2019s probably the most over-prescribed medication in the country,\u201d notes Aaron Emmel, Pharm.D., founder and program director of Pharmacy Tech Scholar.<\/span><\/p>\n B<\/span>ut it\u2019s not hard to imagine why it is so frequently prescribed, since some providers encounter pressure from parents to provide something to make their children feel better. Although antibiotics are only appropriate for bacterial infections, the symptoms of viral infections can mimic those of bacterial infections, and you may not understand the difference. You just know that you, or your child, feels bad and you may ask for an antibiotic.<\/span><\/p>\n But you can make a difference on that front. \u201cDon\u2019t set an expectation with your provider that you want to leave with a prescription,\u201d Dr. Emmel says. \u201cLet him or her perform an assessment and determine whether that is necessary.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n RELATED: <\/b>What is antibiotic stewardship?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Most prescribed drug in Memphis, Tenn.; Milwaukee; New Orleans; Omaha, Neb.; Philadelphia; Raleigh, N.C.; Washington, D.C.<\/b><\/p>\n Get amlodipine coupon<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. It\u2019s used to treat high blood pressure, certain types of angina (chest pain), and coronary artery disease. It\u2019s sometimes prescribed alone, but it can and is also used in combination with other meds. You may be familiar with the brand name version, Norvasc, although it\u2019s available as a generic, which may be one reason for its popularity. \u201cAmlodipine is extremely safe,\u201d notes Dr. Emmel. \u201cIt\u2019s also very inexpensive.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Amlodipine isn\u2019t just popular in Philadelphia, New Orleans, and these other cities. \u201cHypertension is a very common disease in the U.S.,\u201d says <\/span>Jagdish Khubchandani<\/span><\/a>, Ph.D., professor of public health at New Mexico State University. \u201cThe prevalence of these problems is increasing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n A 2020 report in the journal <\/span>JAMA<\/span><\/i> noted that\u00a0<\/span>amlodipine is one of the 10 most commonly prescribed medications in the United States<\/span><\/a>. In fact, in 2018 alone,<\/span>\u00a0more that 76 million prescriptions<\/span><\/a> for amlodipine were filled in the U.S.<\/span><\/p>\n That\u2019s probably not surprising, when you consider that<\/span> 45% of adults<\/span><\/a> living in the U.S. have hypertension or are taking medication for it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).<\/span><\/p>\n Hypertension is a risk factor linked to heart disease, notes Joanna Lewis, Pharm.D., the creator of <\/span>The Pharmacist\u2019s Guide<\/span><\/a>. And when you consider areas of the country with higher death rates attributed to heart disease, you tend to find cities like Memphis and New Orleans.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n RELATED: <\/b>What are normal blood pressure levels?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Most prescribed drug in Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Boston; Charlotte, N.C.; Colorado Springs, Col.; Chicago; Denver; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; Louisville, Ky.; Minneapolis; Nashville, Tenn.; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco; Seattle; Tampa, Fla.; Tulsa, Okla.; Virginia Beach, Va.<\/b><\/p>\n Get amphetamine\/dextroamphetamine coupon<\/a><\/p>\n Surprised by the number of cities on the list for amphetamine\/dextroamphetamine? You may know it better by the brand name Adderall. This combination medication is frequently used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).<\/span><\/p>\n \u201c[It is] used for ADHD, obesity, narcolepsy, and depression, just to name a few,\u201d says Khubchandani. \u201cThe prevalence of these problems is increasing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n And as you\u2019ll notice from the list of cities with SingleCare users, its use is very widespread.\u00a0<\/span>According to the CDC,<\/span>\u00a0about 3 out of every 4 children with ADHD take medication<\/span><\/a> to help them cope with their condition. In fact,<\/span>\u00a0more than 25 million prescriptions<\/span><\/a> for this type of med were filled in 2018 in the U.S.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Areas with greater populations of children could be a factor, says Khubchandani. But it may also be worth considering that larger cities will have larger numbers of pediatric providers who can diagnose ADHD and will prescribe a medication like amphetamine\/dextroamphetamine. \u201cIn addition, many other parents from nearby, rural underserved, or other states may visit these specialists or specialized medical centers to get children treated,\u201d Khubchandani adds.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n RELATED: <\/b>ADHD statistics<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Most prescribed drug in San Antonio\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Get cetirizine hydrochloride coupon<\/a><\/p>\n San Antonio, Texas, is home to the Alamo and many other popular destinations. But the city is notorious for its effect on allergy sufferers. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, San Antonio is seventh on\u00a0<\/span>the list of the top 10 most challenging places to live for people with seasonal allergies<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Small wonder, then, that an antihistamine tops the list of commonly prescribed meds in this Texas city. Cetirizine hydrochloride reduces the amount of histamine that your body produces when provoked by an allergen of some sort. It belongs to a class of drugs known as H1 receptor antagonists.<\/span><\/p>\n Cetirizine<\/span><\/a> is the name of the generic form, but you may be familiar with brand names like Zyrtec. It\u2019s available over the counter, too. But when you have a prescription you can <\/span>take advantage of SingleCare savings<\/span><\/a>. Some providers may suggest it to you because, unlike an antihistamine like Benadryl, cetirizine shouldn\u2019t make you feel as sleepy, as it has a low drowsiness profile.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBecause the weather is milder in certain areas of the country (e.g., Texas), trees and plants bloom earlier and longer,\u201d Dr. Lewis says. \u201cAnd because of this, allergens like pollen and ragweed will affect those with seasonal allergic rhinitis for a longer period of time.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n RELATED: <\/b>Non-drowsy Benadryl: What are your options?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Most prescribed drug in Detroit; Fresno, Calif.; Houston; Jacksonville, Fla.; Long Beach, Calif.; Los Angeles\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n Get ibuprofen coupon<\/a><\/p>\n Ibuprofen belongs to a category of meds known as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs. People take it for a wide variety of conditions, including menstrual cramps, pain from osteoarthritis, headache, fevers, toothaches, and backaches.<\/span><\/p>\n You might wonder why ibuprofen, which is available over the counter, might be a popularly prescribed medication in several cities. It could be ease of use: taking one or two prescription-strength ibuprofen may be easier for some people than gulping down multiple tablets of the OTC kind. Or it could be because their insurance formularies cover it. Dr. Emmel also speculated that it\u2019s possible that people are very active in cities with the kind of weather that Los Angeles and Long Beach often have, and sometimes with physical activity comes injury and overuse.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n But just because it\u2019s also available over the counter doesn\u2019t mean you should not be mindful about taking it in whatever form. \u201cPeople think that because it\u2019s over the counter, that it\u2019s totally fine and benign,\u201d Dr. Emmel says, \u201cbut it\u2019s a pretty serious medication.\u201d Dr. Emmel notes that NSAIDs can increase your risk of having a cardiovascular event like a heart attack or stroke. NSAIDs also come with a risk of GI (gastrointestinal) bleeding, ulceration, or perforation of the stomach or intestines. Ibuprofen can also interact with other medications that you may be taking, like blood thinners or certain high blood pressure meds.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cYou always want to take it for a short period of time,\u201d says DiGregorio. \u201cYou find yourself using it for longer than, I would say, five to seven days, then you would want to call your doctor and see if something else is going on.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n RELATED: <\/b>Is it safe to take ibuprofen and Tylenol together?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Most prescribed drug in Albuquerque, NM; Mesa, Arizona<\/b><\/p>\n Get levothyroxine sodium coupon<\/a><\/p>\n People who receive a prescription for levothyroxine sodium probably have\u00a0<\/span>hypothyroidism<\/span><\/a>, a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland doesn\u2019t produce enough of the hormones triiodothyronine and thyroxine that keep your metabolism humming along. It tends to affect women more than men, and it\u2019s <\/span>more likely to develop after menopause<\/span><\/a>. Levothyroxine sodium is also prescribed to treat enlarged thyroid (goiter) due to hypothyroidism, and certain kinds of thyroid cancer.<\/span><\/p>\n Levothyroxine sodium is a relatively inexpensive drug and available as a generic. Some of the common brand names for this medication are Synthroid, Levothroid, Levoxyl, and Unithroid.<\/span><\/p>\n This drug is frequently among the most commonly prescribed meds in the country, notes Dr. Lewis. \u201cIf [these top cities] have a larger population of women over 50, that may be a reason, too,\u201d she says.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Khubchandani also points out that certain ethnic groups seem to be at higher risk for hypothyroidism, including Mexican Americans, people who are Hispanic, and people with Native American ancestry. \u201cNew Mexico and Arizona have high proportions of these groups compared to other parts of the country,\u201d he says, adding that Mesa and Albuquerque are among the bigger cities and have more specialized clinics and providers where people can access specialized care for thyroid conditions, among others.<\/span><\/p>\n RELATED: <\/b>What is Synthroid?<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Most prescribed drug in Columbus, Ohio; Fort Worth, Texas; Las Vegas; Oklahoma City; Phoenix; Sacramento, Calif.; Tucson, Ariz.<\/b><\/p>\n Get lisinopril coupon<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Remember that statistic about 45% of U.S. adults having high blood pressure or taking medication for hypertension, per the CDC? Amlodipine isn\u2019t the only commonly prescribed antihypertensive med. Lisinopril is another one.<\/span><\/p>\n So, chances are, you probably know someone who\u2019s taking lisinopril or a medication like it. Lisinopril belongs to a class of drugs known as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which are commonly prescribed to lower a person\u2019s blood pressure. Like amlodipine,<\/span> it\u2019s one of the 10 most commonly prescribed medications in the United States<\/span><\/a>, according to a June 2020 report in the journal <\/span>JAMA<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n Dr. Emmel ticks off a list of reasons why lisinopril is so commonly prescribed in these cities (and others): \u201cIt\u2019s extremely inexpensive. It\u2019s been around a long time. It\u2019s extremely safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n It may not be surprising to see Columbus on the list, given that Ohio is a heart disease hot spot, per the CDC, Dr. Lewis adds.<\/span><\/p>\n RELATED: <\/b>Blood pressure treatments and medications<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Most prescribed drug in Baltimore; El Paso, Texas; Miami; New York<\/b><\/p>\n Get vitamin D coupon<\/a><\/p>\n What do El Paso and New York City have in common? If you\u2019re stumped by that question, consider this: Vitamin D is the most prescribed drug in both of these cities.<\/span><\/p>\n You can get\u00a0<\/span>vitamin D<\/span><\/a> through the food that you eat and from sun exposure. But if you\u2019re not getting enough foods containing vitamin D, and if you tend to cover up and stay out of the sun, you might not be getting enough. The latter might apply to residents of El Paso, which gets a whopping 302 days of sunshine every year on average.<\/span><\/p>\n Turns out,\u00a0<\/span>most people in the United States aren\u2019t getting enough of this important fat-soluble vitamin<\/span><\/a>, according to the National Institutes of Health. Your doctor might\u00a0<\/span>prescribe vitamin D<\/span><\/a> if you\u2019re at risk for developing osteoporosis, a condition that occurs when your bones become weak, brittle, and fragile. Your bones need vitamin D in order to absorb calcium, which helps you maintain bone density and strength.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s probably not a good idea to start taking vitamin D without consulting your healthcare provider first, though. Vitamin D supplementation is not appropriate for everyone, notably people with chronic kidney disease who may have high calcium levels.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIf you have risk factors for osteoporosis, there are indications for supplementation with vitamin D as you get older,\u201d Dr. Emmel says. \u201cSo it really depends on your underlying risk for osteoporosis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nMost common prescription drugs by city:<\/span><\/h2>\n
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1. Amoxicillin (Amoxil)<\/span><\/h3>\n
2. Amlodipine besylate (Norvasc)<\/span><\/h3>\n
3. Amphetamine\/dextroamphetamine (Adderall)<\/span><\/h3>\n
4. Cetirizine hydrochloride (Zyrtec)<\/span><\/h3>\n
5. Ibuprofen (Motrin)<\/span><\/h3>\n
6. Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid)<\/span><\/h3>\n
7. Lisinopril (Prinivil)<\/span><\/h3>\n
8. Vitamin D<\/span><\/h3>\n