We all know what’s in our medicine cabinet — but how do it compare with others?
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists recently used data from drug manufacturers to determine the most popular prescription drugs in the U.S. based on how much was spent on them in 2023.
Some trends stood out. Weight-loss drugs were the main drivers of a 13.5% increase in prescription drug spending in the U.S. Tizepatide, a drug initially for treating diabetes, grew 373% in popularity even though the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did not approve it for weight loss until late 2023. At the same time, hospital spending on prescription drugs decreased by 1.1% in 2023.
The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists speculates that the amount spent on weight-loss drugs will continue to increase as supply catches up with the growing demand.
The following prescription drugs are those that the U.S. collectively spent more than $10 billion on — per drug — in 2023. That includes spending at pharmacies, clinics and hospitals.
11. Risankizumab
Common brand name(s) for this drug: Skyrizi
Amount spent on this drug: $10.1 billion in 2023
Risankizumab can be taken as either an injection or a pill. It’s used to treat moderate to severe plaque psoriasis (an autoimmune skin condition) in adults whose psoriasis can’t be treated by topical medications alone. It’s also prescribed for adults with psoriatic arthritis and Crohn’s disease (a type of inflammatory bowel disease that’s also autoimmune).
10. Dupilumab
Common brand name(s) for this drug: Dupixent
Amount spent on this drug: $11.49 billion in 2023
Dupilumab is an injection given to people with eczema (a skin condition) who cannot use, or haven’t responded to treatment from, other medications. It’s also used to treat symptoms of certain types of asthma.
9. Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide
Common brand name(s) for this drug: Biktarvy
Amount spent on this drug: $13.15 billion in 2023
The combination of bictegravir, emtricitabine and tenofovir alafenamide is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. It doesn’t cure HIV but may lessen the risk of developing acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and HIV-related illnesses like serious infections or cancer.
8. Tirzepatide
Common brand name(s) for this drug: Mounjaro, Zepbound
Amount spent on this drug: $13.16 billion in 2023
Zepbound was approved by the FDA in November 2023 for weight management in adults with obesity and overweight adults with at least one weight-related condition, like high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes or high cholesterol. Tirzepatide is not a new medication, however. This injection was first used under the brand name Mounjaro, and still is, to treat Type 2 diabetes.
7. Pembrolizumab
Common brand name(s) for this drug: Keytruda
Amount spent on this drug: $15.4 billion in 2023
Pembrolizumab is an injection used to treat types of skin cancer, including melanoma, Merkel cell carcinoma and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. It can be used, either alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy, to treat other forms of cancer.
6. Ustekinumab
Common brand name(s) for this drug: Stelara
Amount spent on this drug: $15.87 billion in 2023
Ustekinumab is used to treat the signs and symptoms of active psoriatic arthritis, like psoriasis and joint swelling. It’s also used to treat plaque psoriasis and moderate to severe Crohn’s disease. It’s an injection.
5. Empagliflozin
Common brand name(s) for this drug: Jardiance
Amount spent on this drug: $15.89 billion in 2023
Empagliflozin is used to lower blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes, as well as to reduce the risk of stroke, heart attack or death in people who have both Type 2 diabetes and a heart and blood vessel disease.
It may also be prescribed to lower the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalization for patients with heart failure, and to lower the risk of worsening kidney disease.
4. Dulaglutide
Common brand name(s) for this drug: Trulicity
Amount spent on this drug: $16.28 billion in 2023
Dulaglutide is an injection taken once a week to treat Type 2 diabetes. It’s meant to not only affect insulin levels, but also to help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke in people with Type 2 diabetes.
3. Apixaban
Common brand name(s) for this drug: Eliquis
Amount spent on this drug: $22.11 billion in 2023
Apixaban is prescribed to treat or prevent deep venous thrombosis (blood clots in deep veins, often in the legs). These blood clots are at risk of traveling to and lodging themselves in the lungs, which can cause pulmonary embolism (a blockage in the lungs). It may also be used to help prevent strokes and blood clots in patients with certain heart rhythm problems.
2. Adalimumab
Common brand name(s) for this drug: Humira
Amount spent on this drug: $35.33 billion in 2023
Adalimumab is used to treat various autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, plaque psoriasis, Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disease).
1. Semaglutide
Common brand name(s) for this drug: Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy
Amount spent on this drug: $38.58 billion in 2023
Under the brand name Ozempic, semaglutide is an injection used to treat Type 2 diabetes and to reduce the risk of a stroke, heart attack or death in adults who have both Type 2 diabetes and a heart and blood vessel disease. Under the brand name Wegovy, the injection was subsequently approved as a weight loss drug in 2021 and can help suppress appetite. Semaglutide has soared in popularity because of its weight-loss properties.
Rybelsus is a tablet form of semaglutide used to improve blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes.
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