Estimated number of dispensed prescriptions written by primary care providers in 2008: Some of the 100 products most frequently dispensed.
| DRUG CLASS | ESTIMATED NO. OF PRESCRIPTIONS DISPENSED FROM CANADIAN RETAIL PHARMACIES, %* |
|---|---|
| Anti-infective agents | 27 562 270 (7.9) |
| Lipid-lowering agents | 19 761 056 (5.7) |
| ACEIs; ARBs; and ARBs plus diuretics | 18 170 979 (5.2) |
| Anticoagulant or antiplatelet agents | 14 475 103 (4.2) |
| Proton pump inhibitors | 13 837 645 (4.0) |
| Antidepressants | 11 387 899 (3.3) |
| Thyroid medications | 11 172 316 (3.2) |
| Diuretics | 10 390 598 (3.0) |
| Calcium channel blockers | 8 960 364 (2.9) |
| Chronic airway obstruction treatment | 8 745 648 (2.5) |
| Glucose-lowering agents | 7 881 004 (2.3) |
| β-blockers | 6 521 109 (1.9) |
| Benzodiazepines | 6 201 612 (1.8) |
| Opioids | 5 966 812 (1.7) |
| Bisphosphonate | 4 305 263 (1.2) |
| Oral contraceptives | 4 324 106 (1.2) |
| Antiseizure medications | 2 869 022 (0.8) |
| NSAIDs | 2 787 668 (0.8) |
| Atypical antipsychotics | 2 734 171 (0.8) |
| Urologics | 1 987 426 (0.6) |
| H2 receptor antagonists | 1 117 132 (0.3) |
| Smoking cessation (eg, bupropion) drugs | 998 535 (0.3) |
| Cholinesterase inhibitors | 916 689 (0.3) |
ACEI—angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, ARB—angiotensin receptor blocker, NSAIDs—nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
↵* The total estimated number of dispensed prescriptions in 2008 was 347 956 493.