The fastest growing drugs in Medicare over the last six years tell the story of modern prescribing: GLP-1 drugs for diabetes and weight, newer diabetes and heart-failure drugs (SGLT2 inhibitors such as Jardiance and Farxiga), newer blood thinners, and drugs that recently went generic. The table lists drugs with at least a million Medicare prescriptions in the latest year, ranked by growth since the first year of our trend data.
What's driving the fastest growing drugs
- New evidence and guidelines. SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 drugs now have heart and kidney benefits on their labels, widening who gets them.
- Shifts from older drugs. Apixaban (Eliquis) and rivaroxaban (Xarelto) have replaced much warfarin use.
- Generic entry can raise volume as prices fall.
- An aging population adds to everything.
Trends for the fastest growing drugs and every other drug
Each drug page now shows its six-year trend and the states where prescriptions grew fastest, next to its county map and the clinicians who prescribe it. For GLP-1 drugs specifically, see GLP-1 prescriptions by state.
Frequently asked questions
Which drug is growing fastest in Medicare?
GLP-1 drugs such as semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro, Zepbound) have grown the fastest among widely used Medicare drugs over the last six years, driven by diabetes, heart and kidney benefits.
Does Medicare cover weight-loss drugs?
By law, Medicare Part D has generally not covered drugs used only for weight loss. GLP-1 drugs are covered for diabetes and for other approved uses such as reducing heart risk; coverage rules can change, so check your plan.
Why do these totals differ from the drug pages?
Trend figures come from CMS’s state and national summaries, which include every prescriber. Drug pages use CMS’s per-prescriber data, which leaves out clinicians with fewer than 11 prescriptions of a drug.
How far back do the trends go?
Six years of Medicare Part D data. Each drug page shows its yearly totals and the states where prescriptions grew fastest.
Sources
CMS Medicare Part D Prescribers by Geography and Drug (opens in a new tab), national totals for all prescribers (these include clinicians CMS leaves out of its per-prescriber data, so they are slightly higher than the counts on drug pages). Prescriptions include refills. General information only, not medical advice. Related: most prescribed drugs in Medicare.