© Copyright 2002 Rogers Media. The following article first appeared in the April 2002 edition of BENEFITS CANADA magazine.

1981
1. Lanoxin, Boehringer Mannheim, heart medication, 3.9 million
2. Min-Ovral, Wyeth, oral contraceptive, 3 million
3. Dyazide, SmithKline & French, diuretic, 2.8 million
 

1982
1. Lanoxin, Boehringer Mannheim, heart medication, 3.7 million
2. Min-Ovral, Wyeth, oral contraceptive, 3.1 million
3. Dyazide, SmithKline & French, diuretic, 3 million
 

1983
1. Lanoxin, Boehringer Mannheim, heart medication, 3.3 million
2. Min-Ovral, Wyeth, oral contraceptive, 2.8 million
3. Amoxil, Ayerst, antibiotic, 2.6 million
 

1984
1. Lanoxin, Boehringer Mannheim, heart medication, 3.6 million
2. Halcion, Upjohn, sedative, 3.2 million
3. Ativan, Wyeth, tranquillizer, 3.2 million
 

1985
1. Halcion, Upjohn, sedative, 3.6 million
2. Ativan, Wyeth, tranquillizer, 3.5 million
3. Lanoxin, Boehringer Mannheim, heart medication, 3.4 million
 

1986
1. Halcion, Upjohn, sedative, 3.9 million
2. Ativan, Wyeth, tranquillizer, 3.6 million
3. Lanoxin, Boehringer Mannheim, heart medication, 3.3 million
 

1987
1. Halcion, Upjohn, sedative, 4 million
2. Ventolin, Allen-Hanburys, bronchodilators for asthma, 3.3 million
3. Lanoxin, Boehringer Mannheim, heart medication, 3.2 million
 

1988
1. Halcion, Upjohn, sedative, 3.4 million
2. Ventolin, Glaxo Canada Inc., bronchodilators for asthma, 3.1 million
3. Lanoxin, Boehringer Mannheim, heart medication, 2.7 million
 

1989
1. Tylenol with codeine, McNeil Pharmaceuticals, painkiller (with and without prescription), 4.6 million
2. Ventolin, Glaxo Canada Inc., bronchodilators for asthma, 4 million
3. Triphasil, Wyeth, oral contraceptive, 3 million
 

1990
1. Tylenol with codeine, McNeil Pharmaceuticals, painkiller (with and without prescription), 5 million
2. Ventolin, Glaxo Canada Inc., bronchodilators for asthma, 3.6 million
3. Triphasil, Wyeth, oral contraceptive, 3 million
 

1991
1. Tylenol with codeine, McNeil Pharmaceuticals, painkiller (with and without prescription), 5.2 million
2. Ventolin, Glaxo Canada Inc., bronchodilators for asthma, 3.2 million
3. Novamoxin, Novopharm, antibiotic, 3.1 million
 

1992
1. Tylenol with codeine, McNeil Pharmaceuticals, painkiller (with and without prescription), 5.1 million
2. Novamoxin, Novopharm, antibiotic, 3 million
3. Triphasil, Wyeth, oral contraceptive, 3 million
 

1993
1. Tylenol with codeine, McNeil Pharmaceuticals, painkiller (with and without prescription), 5.3 million
2. Premarin, Wyeth-Ayerst, hormone replacement therapy, 3.3 million
3. Vasotec, Frosst, blood pressure medication, 3.1 million
 

1994
1. Tylenol with codeine, McNeil Pharmaceuticals, painkiller (with and without prescription), 5.3 million
2. Novamoxin, Novopharm, antibiotic, 3.8 million
3. Premarin, Wyeth-Ayerst, hormone replacement therapy, 3.5 million
 

1995
1. Tylenol with codeine #3, McNeil Pharmaceuticals, painkiller (prescription), 4.4 million
2. Novamoxin, Novopharm, antibiotic, 4.3 million
3. Premarin, Wyeth-Ayerst, hormone replacement therapy, 3.9 million
 

1996
1. Tylenol with codeine #3, Ortho-McNeil, painkiller (prescription), 4.5 million
2. Premarin, Wyeth-Ayerst, hormone replacement therapy, 4 million
3. Novamoxin, Novopharm, antibiotic, 3.9 million
 

1997
1. Tylenol with codeine #3, Ortho-McNeil, painkiller (prescription), 4.5 million
2. Premarin, Wyeth-Ayerst, hormone replacement therapy, 4.4 million
3. Synthroid, Knoll, thyroid hormone therapy, 3.8 million
 

1998
1. Premarin, Wyeth-Ayerst, hormone replacement therapy, 4.7 million
2. Tylenol with codeine #3, Ortho, painkiller (prescription), 4.5 million
3. Synthroid, Knoll, thyroid hormone therapy, 4.4 million
 

1999
1. Synthroid, Knoll, thyroid hormone therapy, 5 million
2. Premarin, Wyeth-Ayerst, hormone replacement therapy, 4.9 million
3. Tylenol with codeine #3, Janssen-Ortho Inc., painkiller (prescription), 4.9 million
 

2000
1. Synthroid, Knoll, thyroid hormone therapy, 5.6 million
2. Premarin, Wyeth-Ayerst, hormone replacement therapy, 4.9 million
3. Tylenol with codeine #3, Janssen-Ortho Inc., painkiller, 4.9 million
 

2001
1. Synthroid, Abbott PPD, thyroid hormone therapy, 6.3 million
2. Lipitor, Abbott PPD, cholesterol reducer, 5.4 million
3. Premarin, Wyeth-Ayerst, hormone replacement therapy, 4.8 million
 

Source: IMS Health, Compuscript. Ranking based on estimated prescriptions dispensed in Canadian retail pharmacies. Complete information as listed above is not available prior to 1981.

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