Drugs that affect your metabolism — lower cholesterol, control diabetes, weight control — topped the list for spending on prescription drugs in 2006.
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality reported that those drugs accounted for $38 billion of the $208.1 billion spent on prescription medications. The estimate comes from an AHRQ analysis that found five therapeutic categories of prescribed drugs accounted for more than 60 percent of consumer spending on drugs in 2006.
– $38 billion spent on metabolic drugs, which included cholesterol-lowering medications, diabetes drugs, and weight control drugs.
– $33 billion for cardiovascular drugs, that include blood pressure drugs, diuretics and drugs to control heart rhythm problems.
– $28 billion for central nervous system drugs, which include  painkillers.
– $17.5 billion for psychotherapeutic drugs, which include antidepressants.
– $14 billion for hormones used for osteoporosis, menopausal symptoms, cancer treatment, and other medical problems.