SUMMARY

Three of America’s top 20 most prescribed drugs in 2025 – Gabapentin (#5), Hydrocodone (#14), and Prednisone (#17) – are given to millions of people for pain and inflammation. But what does the published research actually say about their side effects? And what does nature offer instead?

In this episode, Dr. Bryan Ardis breaks down the FDA-approved side effect profiles of Gabapentin, Hydrocodone, Prednisone, and Ibuprofen, from Parkinson’s-like symptoms and cardiac arrest linked to Gabapentin, to the FDA black box warning on Advil and Motrin that most people have never been told about. Then Dr. Ardis reveals the published science on powerful natural alternatives

In this week’s episode of The Dr. Ardis Show, Dr. Bryan Ardis launches a brand new series – The Top 20 Prescribed Drugs of 2025 – covering every category of the most prescribed medications in America, one episode at a time. If you or someone you love is on any of these drugs, this series is essential viewing.

This episode focuses on the #1 and #13 most prescribed drugs of 2025: atorvastatin (Lipitor) and rosuvastatin (Crestor), two statin drugs currently taken by 92 million Americans. Dr. Ardis walks through what statins actually do, their published side effects including CoQ10 depletion, muscle damage, liver injury, hemorrhagic stroke, and increased diabetes risk, then presents peer-reviewed research on natural alternatives proven to lower cholesterol without the risks.

Natural solutions covered include guggul resin extract, niacin (vitamin B3), vitamin C, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, magnesium, and vitamin D – each backed by published clinical studies showing meaningful reductions in LDL, triglycerides, and cardiovascular risk.