According to market research firm IMS Health Inc., sales of prescription drugs in the United States showed the slowest growth in at least 47 years, as cheaper pills and the recession cut spending.

 

Prescription drug sales rose 1.3 percent to $291 billion in 2008. That compares with a 3.8 percent increase in 2007. In 2006 the number was roughly 8 percent.

 

“It’s a new lower-growth environment than we’ve seen in the past, although some of the factors have been present for awhile,” especially challenges from cheaper generics, said Diana Conmy, an analyst with IMS, which compiles pharmaceutical industry market data.

 

"Dispensed prescription volume in the United States grew at a 0.9 percent pace" in 2008, IMS said. That compares with dispensed volume growth of 2.8 percent in 2007 and 4.6 percent growth in 2006, reflected in prior IMS reports.

 

Drugs that lower “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides or raise “good” cholesterol were the most widely dispensed US retail prescription drugs on a volume basis in 2008, the report showed. These drugs were followed by codeine and drugs containing the narcotic painkiller, anti-depressants, and two types of blood pressure drugs called ACE inhibitors and beta blockers.

 

“In terms of overall prescription sales through both retail and non-retail channels, antipsychotics led all therapy classes,” IMS said, followed by lipid regulators, a leading class of ulcer drugs called proton pump inhibitors and anti-seizure medicines.