$36 Billion Spent on Cholesterol, Diabetes and Metabolic Drugs

Adults in the United States spent nearly $36 billion on prescription drugs to lower blood sugar, reduce cholesterol, or help with other metabolic problems in 2005, according to the latest information from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
The other top selling drug classes included, cardiovascular drugs, for reducing high blood pressure and treating heart conditions ($33 billion), central nervous system drugs, which include pain killers; sleep aid medications and medications for attention deficit disorder ($26 billion), antidepressants and antipsychotic drugs ($17 billion), and gastrointestinal drugs including antacids and laxatives ($15 billion).
Total purchases of these top five drug classes equaled $127 billion in 2005, which is nearly two thirds of the total $199 billion spent on all outpatient prescription medicines.
AHRQ, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, works to enhance the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care in the United States. The data in this AHRQ News and Numbers summary are taken from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey, a detailed source of information on the health services used by Americans, the frequency with which they are used, the cost of those services, and how they are paid.

Source: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

Comments

One Response to “$36 Billion Spent on Cholesterol, Diabetes and Metabolic Drugs”

  1. Mary Harper on February 20th, 2008 22:06

    Resveratrol can help you to lead a long and healthy life so says Dr. Oz.

    Resveratrol Supplements can help you control your weight naturally
    by increasing energy, reducing cravings, and limiting your appetite.
    According to Wikipedia, Consumer Lab, an independent dietary
    supplement and over the counter products evaluation organization,
    published a report on 13 November 2007 on the popular resveratrol
    supplements. The organization reported that there exists a wide range
    in quality, dose, and price among the 13 resveratrol products
    evaluated. The actual amount of resveratrol contained in the
    different brands range from 2.2mg for Revatrol, which claimed to have
    400mg of “Red Wine Grape Complex”, to 500mg for Biotivia.com Transmax,
    which is consistent with the amount claimed on the product’s label.
    Prices per 100mg of resveratrol ranged from less than $.30 for
    products made by Biotivia.com, jarrow, and country life, to a high of
    $45.27 for the Revatrol brand. None of the products tested were found
    to have significant levels of heavy metals or other contaminants.

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