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 |
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 |
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.
Dr. John Grohol is the founder & CEO of Psych Central. He is an author, researcher and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health and psychology issues -- as well as the intersection of technology and human behavior -- since 1992. Dr. Grohol sits on the editorial board of the journal Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking and is a founding board member and treasurer of the Society for Participatory Medicine.
APA Reference
Grohol, J. (2010). Top 25 Psychiatric Prescriptions for 2009. Psych Central. Retrieved on May 11, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2010/top-25-psychiatric-prescriptions-for-2009/
Grohol, J. (2010). Top 25 Psychiatric Prescriptions for 2009. Psych Central. Retrieved on May 11, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2010/top-25-psychiatric-prescriptions-for-2009/
Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 Jan 2013
Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved.
