TOP 25 PSYCH MEDS IN 2009

[RubyWitch]

I found this article and thought you might find it interesting................
Peace
Greenlydia

By John M. Grohol, Psy.D.


These are the top 25 psychiatric medications by number of U.S. prescriptions dispensed in 2009, according to IMS Health. I’ve also provided their 2005 ranking. To put the percent change into perspective, the U.S. total population rose approximately 4 percent from 2005 to 2009.

2009
Rank 2005
Rank Brand name
(generic name)  Used for…  U.S. Prescriptions (% change)
1.  1.  Xanax
(alprazolam)  Anxiety  44,029,000
(29%)  
2.  3.  Lexapro
(escitalopram)
Depression, Anxiety  27,698,000
(13%)  
3.  5.  Ativan
(lorazepam)  Anxiety, panic disorder  25,868,000
(36%)  
4.  2.  Zoloft
(sertraline)  Depression, Anxiety, OCD, PTSD, PMDD  19,500,000
(- 28%)  
5.  4.  Prozac
(fluoxetine)  Depression, Anxiety  19,499,000
(- 9%)  
6.  N/A  Desyrel
(trazodone)  Depression, Anxiety  18,873,000  
7.  16.  Cymbalta
(duloxetine)  Depression, Anxiety, fibromyalgia, diabetic neuropathy  16,626,000
(237%)  
8.  13.  Seroquel
(quetiapine)  Bipolar disorder, Depression  15,814,000
(88%)  
9.  6.  Effexor XR
(venlafaxine)  Depression, Anxiety, Panic disorder  14,992,000
(- 13%)  
10.  9.  Valium
(diazepam)  Anxiety, Panic disorder  14,009,000
(16%)  

11.  N/A  Amphetamine salts
(Generic)  Attention deficit disorder  10,794,000  
12.  14.  Risperdal
(risperidone)  Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, irritability in autism  10,590,000
(45%)  
13.  N/A  Vistaril*
(hydroxyzine)  Anxiety, tension  9,770,000  
14.  N/A  Bupropion
(Generic)  Depression, stop smoking  8,981,000  
15.  N/A  Abilify
(aripiprazole)
Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia, Depression  8,209,000  
16.  N/A  Concerta
(methylphenidate)  Attention deficit disorder  8,098,000  
17.  11.  Celexa
(citalopram)  Depression, Anxiety  7,215,000
(- 22%)  
18.  19.  Buspar
(buspirone)  Sleep, Anxiety  5,455,000
(35%)  
19.  N/A  Vyvanse
(lisdexamfetamine)  Attention deficit disorder  5,437,000  
20.  17.  Zyprexa
(olanzapine)  Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia  5,379,000
(18%)  
21.  12.  Adderall XR
(amphetamine and dextroamphetamine)  Attention deficit disorder  5,255,000  
22.  10.  Wellbutrin XL
(bupropion xl)  Depression  3,021,000
(- 73%)  
23.  N/A  Geodon
(ziprasidone)  Bipolar disorder, Schizophrenia  3,012,000  
24.  15.  Strattera
(atomoxetine)  Attention deficit disorder  2,919,000
(- 42%)  
25.  N/A  Pristiq
(desvenlafaxine)  Depression  2,432,000  

Notes:

Medications that weren’t listed in 2009 by IMS Health (but were in 2005): Klonopin, Elavil, Depakote, and Paxil.

If no percentage change is listed, we did not track it in 2005.

* – This is not a psychiatric medication, but is often prescribed for a mental health issue.

[RubyWitch]

You're more than welcome, Toots! And it WILL get better.

Write anytime you need to, OK? We've ALL been where you are!

Peace
Greenlydia

[Kirstie_MHModerator]

Since this list is no longer accurate, we'll leave it up for historical value, but we're closing it to comments.

[RubyWitch]

As the one who first posted this way the hell back in 2009, I can't agree with Paxiled strongly enough!!!!! SOOOO much has changed in the past 8 years, this post should probably be taken down by the Mods...........in fact, I am going to send this link to them right now. To jbrown2106, if you aspire to become a pharmacist, delete this post immediately............you will hopefully learn about "snake oil" when you begin your studies! Good catch, Pax!

[Jbrown2196]

Pretty spot on thank you for those stats. Aspiring pharmacist here applying for pharm school currently.

[Paxiled]

jbrown, this is a very old post.  This is 8 years ago.  The stats are probably very different now.  Some of these meds have been busted by FDA since then for illegal marketing, such as Seroquel.  Just sayin'

[Stayinpositive]

Thank you doll. I hope it gets better.

[RubyWitch]

If you read at the bottom of that post, you would have seen this.....................


"Medications that weren’t listed in 2009 by IMS Health (but were in 2005): Klonopin, Elavil, Depakote, and Paxil."

This just means that in the years between 2005-2009, the above 4 meds were not perscribed as often. No doubt as newer drugs came on the market, the "older" medications were dispensed less often. It does NOT reflect on the quality of any of the drugs mentioned. Your doctor has probably seen great sucess with Paxil and is knowledgable and comfortable perscribing it. It is an excellent medication if it works for you. I'm sorry if this list caused you some alarm............I just thought it was an interesting overview of psych meds.

The side effects you are experiencing will soon abate as your body as your body adjusts to the meds. Sometimes the road can be a litlle rocky when we first begin a new AD or AA. If you have any questions about side effects, your doctor is the best source of information and we are a very close second! Please write anytime you need to!
Peace
Greenlydia      

[Stayinpositive]

I notice Paxil is not on the list. I'm currently on 20 mg of Paxil and 0.25 Xanax for the past 9 days. Paxil not good??? I do know it causes severe anxiety and sweating in the first few days!

[RubyWitch]

Xanax is a very excellent medication for prn (as needed) use for panic attacks or used on a daily basis for no more than 4 months. If you need something for long term use, I would have suggested Klonopin as a possibility, but you apparently tried that and it didn't work out for you. There are many other meds you could try and I would suggest talking this over with a PMM (Psychiatric Medication Manager)
Our bodies quickly become tolerant to Xanax and one must up the dosage far too frequently to make this particular med a good choice for the long haul. It's at the top of the list not necessarily because it's the "best." but because it's the most frequently perscribed benzo. And in my humble and non-medical opinion, it is seriously over perscribed by doctors who don't understand enough about it. It is one, if not THE, worst benzo to withdraw from.
Please discuss all of your options before deciding on the Xanax.
Diazepam is a mild antianxiety med that is good for long term use, rarely does the dose need upping and it's fairly easy to w/d from. Just a thought.
I wish you the very best.
Peace
Greenlydia  

[unsure732]

Just what I was looking for. I tried Celexa and Klonopin once...bleech! Another psych dr was trying to put me on risperdol, I am glad I refused now that I know it is for Schizophrenia and Bi-po.
My anxiety is getting on control but not as much as I want. I wonder if Xanax is a good choice since it's at the top of the charts.
When I was hospitalized, everybody and they mama was on  that Seroquel. It was like the whole floor was on it (weird).

[allmymarbles]

Addemdum. I was given the smallest dose of Xanax - .25 mg. I found that often I could get a fine result with only half a pill. I wonder if the dosages I see on this forum aren't generally too high. It seems that people (doctors too?) have a tendency to overdose. How often have we seen someone pop two aspirins for a headache, without first trying one, or even a half of one?

[allmymarbles]

Great list. Thanks. I was surprised to see Xanax heading the list. It is highly addictive and outlawed in the UK. I had to take it briefly, on an as-needed basis, for panic attacks caused by an inhaled steroid. I was very, very careful with that drug. That said, it worked like a charm.

[RubyWitch]

The article did say that some common meds were not included because they weren't included in the 2005 study. Klonopin was one of them. If you go to the IMS Health site, and follow that until you find this study by Dr.Grohol, I think you will find the complete list of meds. I thought that was a bit odd myself since Klonopin is so widely prescribed.
Perhaps I should have done that before I posted the list. Mia Culpa!
Hope you can locate the site and get an answer!
Peace
Greenlydia    

[Sue357]

Hi.  thanks for the list.  I am really surprised that Klonopin is not listed as I take it and it seems like so many others on here do.  I also didn't see lamictal or celexa unless I missed them.  

[nursegirl6572]

That IS very interesting, thanks for the info lydia!  My PCP, when recently starting me back on Zoloft, told me that it was one of the most commonly prescribed, and one of the more successful SSRI's used in the Rx of Anxiety disorders, especially Panic Disorder.  Guess she was actually not feeding me a line...lol.

Ive done Zoloft, Lexapro and Prozac (all at different times)...and can honestly say that at each time I took the meds, they all worked very well for me. I consider myself lucky as I am all too familiar with the struggles of many to find a med that works.  

For me, after about 2 months of the Zoloft, I can say I have already started seeing a fair amount of improvement. I think I am going to require a higher dose, as my current 50 mg probably just isnt quite high enough for me, considering that the last time I took it, my ending dose was 200 mg/day..but I have seen encouraging improvements.  Today I even drove myself to a family function, something I haven't even CONSIDERED doing for quite some time.

I just wish that EVERYONE that needed relief found it as easily as some of us when it comes to meds.

Again, thanks for the interesting info, lydia.

[Limonada]

That is interesting!