Total prescription drug sales in the United States increased from $308.6 billion in 2010 to $319.9 billion in 2011, according to an August 25, 2012, article in the journal ACS Chemical Neuroscience.

There was also an increase in total number of prescriptions dispensed — 3.99 billion in 2010 compared to 4.02 billion in 2011.

Lipitor was once again the bestselling prescription drug in the world, at $7.7 billion. The next best-selling were, in order: Plavix, Nexium, Abilify, Advair Diskus, Seroquel, Singulair, Crestor, Cymbalta, and Humira.

Every one of these drugs works by poisoning enzymes and/or blocking receptors in the body. Are there times to use drugs that have these abilities? Yes. But for chronic care, it does not make sense to use drugs that have these properties.

We are taking too many drugs that do not treat the underlying causes of illness — they merely treat symptoms. We need to find the causes of illness and develop treatment plans.

My book, Drugs That Don’t Work and Natural Therapies That Do!, describes the problems
with five of the top 10 classes of drugs prescribed in the U.S. I also provide information on how to implement natural alternatives to drug therapies.