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Fitango EducationHealth Topics

Drugs/Supplements

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Overview

Learn about your prescription drugs and

over-the-counter medicines. Also, browse dietary supplements and herbal

remedies to learn about how they work and whether they are right for you.

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Most Popular

America's most popular prescription drugs (as of 2011)**Hydrocodone with acetaminophen (Vicodin)**

Type of drug: opioid

Used to treat: pain

Number of prescriptions in 2010: 131.2 million

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Most Popular

Number of prescriptions in 2009: 128.2 million

**Simvastatin (Zocor)**

Type of drug: statin

Used to treat: high cholesterol

Number of prescriptions in 2010: 94.1 million

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Most Popular

Number of prescriptions in 2009: 83.8 million

**Lisinopril (Prinivil)**

Type of drug: ACE inhibitor

Used to treat: high blood pressure

Number of prescriptions in 2010: 87.4 million

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Most Popular

Number of prescriptions in 2009: 82.8 million

**Levothyroxine sodium (Synthroid)**

Type of drug: thyroid hormone

Used to treat: low-functioning thyroid gland

Number of prescriptions in 2010: 70.5 million

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Most Popular

Number of prescriptions in 2009: 66 million

**Amlodipine besylate (Norvasc)**

Type of drug: calcium channel blocker

Used to treat: high blood pressure

Number of prescriptions in 2010: 57.2 million

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Most Popular

Number of prescriptions in 2009: 51.3 million

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Popular Supplements

The most widely used supplements (as of 2011) are:1. **FISH OIL**

- Fish oil can be obtained from

eating fish or by taking supplements. Fish that are especially rich in the

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beneficial oils known as omega-3 fatty acids include mackerel, tuna, salmon,

sturgeon, mullet, bluefish, anchovy, sardines, herring, trout, and menhaden.

They provide about 1 gram of omega-3 fatty acids in about 3.5 ounces of fish.

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Fish oil supplements are usually made from mackerel, herring, tuna, halibut,

salmon, cod liver, whale blubber, or seal blubber. Fish oil supplements often

contain small amounts of vitamin E to prevent spoilage. They might also be

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combined with calcium, iron, or vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, or D.

Fish oil is used for a wide range of conditions. It is most often used for

conditions related to the heart and blood system. Some people use fish oil to

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Popular Supplements

lower blood pressure or triglyceride levels (fats related to cholesterol). Fish

oil has also been tried for preventing heart disease or stroke. The scientific

evidence suggests that fish oil really does lower high triglycerides, and it

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also seems to help prevent heart disease and stroke when taken in the

recommended amounts. Ironically, taking too much fish oil can actually increase

the risk of stroke.

2. **MULTIVITAMINS**

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- Vitamins are substances

that your body needs to grow and develop normally. There are 13 vitamins your

body needs. They are vitamins A, C, D, E, K and the B vitamins(thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid,

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Popular Supplements

biotin, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12 andfolate). You can usually get all your vitamins from the

foods you eat. Your body can also make vitamins D and K. People who eat a vegetarian diet may

need to take a vitamin B12 supplement.

Each vitamin has specific jobs. If you have

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low levels of certain vitamins, you may develop a deficiency disease. For

example, if you don't get enough vitamin D, you could develop rickets. Some

vitamins may help prevent medical problems. Vitamin A prevents night blindness.

3. **VITAMIN D**

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Popular Supplements

- Vitamin D is a nutrient

found in some foods that is needed for health and to maintain strong bones. It

does so by helping the body absorb calcium (one

of bone's main building blocks) from food and supplements. People who get too

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little vitamin D may develop soft, thin, and brittle bones, a condition known

as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults.

Vitamin D is important to the body in many

other ways as well. Muscles need it to move, for example, nerves need it to

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carry messages between the brain and every body part, and the immune system

needs vitamin D to fight off invading bacteria and viruses. Together with

calcium, vitamin D also helps protect older adults from osteoporosis. Vitamin D

is found in cells throughout the body.

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4. **CALCIUM**

- Calcium is

a mineral found in many foods. The body needs calcium to maintain strong bones

and to carry out many important functions. Almost all calcium is stored in

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bones and teeth, where it supports their structure and hardness.

The body also needs calcium for muscles to

move and for nerves to carry messages between the brain and every body part. In

addition, calcium is used to help blood vessels move blood throughout the body

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and to help release hormones and enzymes that

affect almost every function in the human body.

5. **COENZYME Q10**

- Coenzyme

Q 10 is a compound that

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is made naturally in the body. The body uses it for cell growth

and to protect cells from damage that could lead to cancer.