Pharmacist and customer talking about medication in pharmacy. Woman in chemist store talking with an african druggist. Pharmacist talking to woman client and listening to her problems.

Not a week goes by where Massachusetts most prescribed drug, may cross our paths. It could be for us, a family member, or maybe our job if we are in the medical field. As we get older, we become the doctors of our own bodies, getting to know our bodies, more and more. When we need a specific drug, we begin to know what drugs, are best for us.

Boston: The Best Hospitals In The World

Did you know that our great city of Boston, is the NUMBER ONE city in the WORLD, that gets the most medical research money? When the iconic Beatle, Ringo Starr’s daughter needed brain tumor surgery, he crossed the ocean to bring her to Brigham and Woman’s Hospital. Our friend, Dr. Rudy Tanzi, is neurology professor at Harvard. In 2015 he was named one of Time Magazine’s Most Influential People, after very successful work researching Alzheimer’s.  The list goes on and on.

What Do We All Have In Common?

When it comes to taking care of our bodies, our visits to the doctors for our annual physicals become history lessons on who we are, and where we come from. Singlecare.com did a study on the most prescribed drugs, by state. You may see that many of us, have ALOT in common!

So, let’s take a look and see if you have a Massachusetts most prescribed drug in your medicine cabinet! I bet you do!

  • 1. Alaska- Albuterol HFA (ProAir HFA)

    It’s a popular inhaler. This comes in handy for when we have respiratory issues.

  • 2-Alabama: Vitamin D

    We ALL need more of this! Especially living in the Northeast!

  • 3-Arkansas: Vitamin D

    Sun

    Wow, is this Arkansas? You’d think it being in the South, people would be outside more! 

  • 4-Arizona: Levothyroxine

    Arizona

    FDA approved to treat hypothyroidism.

  • 5-California: Amoxicillin

    We’ve all heard of this rock star of antibiotics.  Currently, there is an amoxicillin shortage due to supply issues, so other antibiotics may be used in its place.

  • 6-Colorado: Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine

    Another name for this is Adderall. FDA approved to treat narcolepsy, it’s more commonly used to treat its other FDA-approved indication: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

  • 7-Connecticut: Vitamin D

    Welcome back to the great Northeast!!

    Orange

    Does this count as Vitamin D? Who doesn’t love pink grapefruit? 

  • 8-Delaware: Vitamin D

    Delaware

     

  • 9-Florida: Levothyroxine

    Florida

    BIG in Florida to treat underproduction of thyroid hormone. Lacking energy, and other important body functions, this is your daddy. 

  • 10-Georgia: Vitamin D

    Georgia

    Don’t peaches offer Vitamin D? It’s a great state to visit with LOTS of fun lakes and Sun!

  • 11-Hawaii: Vitamin D

    Hawaii: Vitamin D

    My doctor actually prescribed this Pina colada. Dr. Rupert Holmes. 

  • 12-Iowa: Lisinopril

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    Think she knows her future? Hopefully she won’t need to treat high BP.

  • 13-Idaho: Levothyroxine

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    For thyroid issues. I have family members that have this problem and it’s a pia…but the meds work. 

  • 14-Illinois: Vitamin D

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    This is where I worked in the late 1990’s. The Hancock Tower on the left. I rode a bike on Shore Drive. Lot’s of sunshine!

  • 15-Indiana: Lisinopril

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    This treats high BP. Driving this fast? Hmm…maybe they need Lisinopril?

  • 16-Kansas: Levothyroxine

    From singlecare.com: Ranking as the most commonly prescribed medication in 11 states, levothyroxine is a medication that’s FDA approved to treat hypothyroidism, or underproduction of thyroid hormone.  Thyroid hormone is responsible for regulating how you use energy, and low levels slow down many important functions in the body. If hypothyroidism is not treated, it can lead to fatigue, weight gain, sensitivity to cold temperatures, dry skin, thinning hair, joint/muscle pain, decreased heart rate, irregular menstrual cycle, fertility issues, and depression.

  • 17-Kentucky: Vitamin D

    Dees

    My pal Rick Dees has a home with a 9 hole golf course in Kentucky. He get’s a LOT of Vitamin Dees. 

  • 18-Louisiana: Amlodipine

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    I did not know this. Used to treat high blood pressure, in the South, where many have high BP.

  • 19-Massachusetts: Vitamin D

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    Thanks Winter and early sunsets!!! Living in the North East is one cause of low Vitamin D.

  • 20-Maryland: Vitamin D

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    I believe this is the country’s first George Washington statue. Was he low on Vitamin D?

  • 21-Maine: Levothyroxine

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    I don’t think this treats hypothyroidism, like Levothyroxine .

  • 22-Michigan: Vitamin D

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    According to singlecare.com:  Vitamin D moved from the second-most common prescription in 2021 to the number one spot in 2022 in 21 states and Washington D.C. And it’s no surprise—according to research, over 40% of the population in the United States is deficient in the vitamin, which is obtained from sunlight and our diet. 

  • 23-Minnesota: Sildenafil citrate

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    Sildenafil citrate is another name for Viagra. Formally created to treat high blood pressure.

  • 24-Missouri: Vitamin D

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    Congrats to the Chiefs! That comment has nothing to do with this post. But I bet Patrick Mahomes has is not Vitamin D deficient.

  • 25-Mississippi: Amlodipine

    This drug treats high blood pressure. Think these guys at Mississippi State need it?

  • 26-Montana: Levothyroxine

    This drug treats hypothyroidism, which cause sensitivity to cold temperatures.

  • North Carolina: Vitamin D

    NC (10).jpg

    Need to visit this place more!

  • 28-North Dakota: Albuterol HFA

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    This is an inhaler.

  • 29-Nebraska: Levothyroxine

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    After doing this for 29 states, I can now past the test to become a pharmacist. This treats hypothyroidism.

  • 30-Nevada: Ibuprofen

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    This makes sense. Used for headaches, or hangovers.

  • 31-New Hampshire: Lisinopril

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    This drug treats high blood pressure. New Hampshire is natures

    Lisinopril

  • 32-New Jersey: Vitamin D

    Natures Vitamin D, the Jersey shore!

  • 33-New Mexico: Levothyroxine

    Levothyroxine treats the Thyroid hormone.

    Singlecare.com says: it is responsible for regulating how you use energy, and low levels slow down many important functions in the body. If hypothyroidism is not treated, it can lead to fatigue, weight gain, sensitivity to cold temperatures, dry skin, thinning hair, joint/muscle pain, decreased heart rate, irregular menstrual cycle, fertility issues, and depression.

     

  • 34-New York: Vitamin D

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    Thanks Northeast! Later sunsets, less Vitamin D!

  • 35-Ohio: Vitamin D

    Hi, I’m Cleveland’s Drew Carey. How is YOUR Vitamin D?

  • 36-Oklahoma: Levothyroxine

    This guys thyroid is ok

  • 37-Oregon: Sildenafil citrate

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    This drug is Viagra, also the name of that reindeer.

  • 38-Pennsylvania: Vitamin D

    Super Bowl, runner up, the Eagles. Maybe the Eagles needed more Vitamin D

  • 39-Rhode Island: Vitamin D

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    Get some here !!!! I got married on the beach, in Warwick Rhode Island. I was an 82 degree day in September.

  • 40-South Carolina: Vitamin D

     

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    I guess the sun and fun of Myrtle Beach does not provide enough D.

  • 41-South Dakota: Levothyroxine

    These guys didn’t have Levothyroxine

  • 42-Tennessee: Alprazolam

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    Treat high blood pressure with natures Alprazolam: the outdoors of Tennessee.

  • 43-Texas: Levothyroxine

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    Used to treat hypothyroidism. Singlecare.com says: The drug is one of the most commonly prescribed medications in the nation, with 123 million prescriptions for levothyroxine dispensed in 2016. 

  • 44-Utah: Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine

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    This is used to treat attention deficit disorder, popular in Park City Utah.

  • 45-Virginia: Vitamin D

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    Let’s up our D right here, right now! James River Walk, Yorktown, Virginia

  • 46-Vermont: Levothyroxine

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    Sensitivity to cold temps could happen with thyroid issues. Doctors provide Levothyroxine

  • 47-Washington: Amphetamine/dextroamphetamine

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    In Seattle, Frazer prescribes this for ADHD.

  • 48-Washington, D.C.: Vitamin D

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    Abe had no issues with Vitamin D, honest

  • 49-Wisconsin: Levothyroxine

    I heard never heard Aaron Rogers complain about his thyroid.

     

  • West Virginia: Vitamin D

    John Denver (R.I.P.) wrote sang Sunshine On My Shoulders. No issues with Vitamin D. (That last part I made up.)

  • Wyoming: Levothyroxine

    Wyoming welcome sign.jpg

    I am now a pharmacist! What prescription do you need. I have the penmanship for it.