The following is a list of the bestselling prescription medications worldwide in the year 2006 ranked by global sales. Brand names appear in bold, followed by generic names in parentheses and approximate global sales in billions of 2006 U.S. Dollars.

The top 10 bestselling prescription medicines are:

1. Lipitor (atorvastatin) - $14.4 billion in sales
   Cholesterol-lowering statin drug has been the world’s bestselling drug for seven years in a row. (Approved in December 1996)


2. Advair (fluticasone/salmeterol) - $6.1 billion
   Long-acting asthma control medication combines a medicine that treats inflammation with one that helps open up the airways. (August 2000)


3. Plavix (clopidogrel) - $6.1 billion
   Anti-clotting drug helps treat cardiovascular diseases caused by narrowing of the arteries in the heart, extremities, and brain. (November 1997)


4. Nexium (esomeprazole) - $5.2 billion
   Bestseller in the class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) that reduce stomach acidity for people with ulcers or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). (March 2000)


5. Norvasc (amlodipine) - $4.9 billion
   Calcium channel blocker treats high blood pressure by reducing smooth muscle tension in the arteries; can also relieve the pain of angina. (July 1992)


6. Remicade (infliximab) - $4.4 billion
   Helps reduce inflammation caused by autoimmune disorders, especially rheumatoid arthritis. (August 1998)


7. Enbrel(etanercept) - $4.4 billion
   Similar to Remicade, Enbrel treats autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis by preventing inflammation. (November 1998)


8. Zyprexa (olanzapine) - $4.4 billion
   Newer-generation antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. (September 1996)


9. Diovan (valsartan) - $4.4 billion
   Angiotensin receptor blocker treats high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. (December 1996)


10. Risperdal (risperidone) - $3.9 billion
    Similar to Zyprexa, this antipsychotic drug is used to treat schizophrenia. (December 1993)

_{Source: MedAdNews 200 - World's Best-Selling Medicines, MedAdNews, July 2007 http://www.medadnews.com/}

_{Photo: Brooks Elliott, Flickr, Creative Commons}