Top-10 best selling drugs
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
The pharmaceutical industry not only helps people fight disease, but also is a very profitable business. Ilive represents the top 10 best-selling prescription drugs.
Effector
This drug belongs to the class of antidepressants, it is used to treat panic disorder, depression and social phobia. The effector has gained fame as the most popular antidepressant, especially in countries concerned with mental health.
Read also: 8 things you need to know about antidepressants
Sales of this drug bring producers about $ 3.8 billion a year.
[Prevacid
Prevacid is a popular drug that treats heartburn. $ 4 billion - this is the annual profit from the sale of the drug. Heartburn is not that rare, and its causes can be overeating, overweight, smoking, alcohol, spicy and too spicy food, and stress.
Read also: Heartburn and 7 ways to combat it
The principle of this drug is to block acid in the stomach.
Risperdal
Risperdal is an atypical neuroleptic aimed at treating bipolar disorders as part of a combination therapy. Revenue from its sales is $ 4 billion. Researches of scientists, conducted with the participation of 290 patients with mental illness, showed that 41.7% of them felt significant improvement after taking Risperdal.
Zyprxa
This drug is used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Ziprexa is one of the best-selling products of Eli Lilly. $ 4.7 billion - this is the annual profit that the manufacturing company receives.
Norvask
One of the leading problems of cardiology is the prevention of diseases of the cardiovascular system. A drug called Norvasc is a modern representative of the dihydropyridines family. It is used for ischemic heart disease and for the treatment of high blood pressure. Dihydropyridines act as blockers of calcium pumps in cells, thereby promoting vasodilatation and lowering resistance to blood flow. The revenue from Norvask's global sales is $ 5 billion.
Zocor
Zokor is a medicament for lowering the level of cholesterol in the blood, entering the same class of statins as the lipitor. Global sales totaled $ 5.3 billion.
Seretid
Seretide is a drug in which fluticasone and salmeterol are combined - two known substances used for inhalation as a powder. Anti-asthmatic means Seretide is a drug in which manufacturers combine the desire to develop not only an effective drug, but also convenient for patients to use.
Annual revenue from sales is $ 5.6 billion, with each year it increases.
Nexium
These violet tablets are a very popular and effective means for treating heartburn, which is reflected in the producer's income - $ 5.7 billion, with annual sales growth of 16.7%.
Plavix
This drug prevents the formation of blood clots, because it is used to prevent heart attacks and strokes. The annual income of producers is $ 5.9 billion.
Lipitor
Lipitor is a tool that helps Americans realize their national idea - to lower the level of cholesterol in the blood, therefore it is not surprising that Lipitor is the most purchased means that perfectly provides its producers - $ 12.9 billion - that's how much its producers earn in a year.