VITALS

And the winner is . . . Premarin, at least in 1997. The estrogen-replacement drug was the top-selling drug in the U.S., with 45,106,000 prescriptions dispensed (including refills). The other top 19 were:

Product: Prescriptions (in millions)

2. Synthroid: 36.2

3. Trimox: 34.5

4. Lanoxin: 25.3

5. Hydrocodone w/APAP: 25

6. Prozac: 22.8

7. Albuterol: 21.8

8. Prilosec: 21.1

9. Vasotec: 20.3

10. Norvasc: 19.7

11. Coumadin Sodium: 19.1

12. Zoloft: 18.6

13. ClaritinZ: 18.3

14. Zocor: 17.5

15. Paxil: 15.9

16. Procardia XL: 15.3

17. Zantac: 15.1

18. Zestril: 15

19. Furosemide: 14.9

20. Cardizem CD: 14.7

Source: IMS Health