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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Azithromycin vs Chloramphenicol

National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Data updated May 2026

Chloramphenicol was dispensed 427.2× as often as Azithromycin in May 2026 — 74,753 items versus 175 in England.

175items

Azithromycin · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

74,753items

Chloramphenicol · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Azithromycin versus Chloramphenicol: national items dispensed by month

▬ Azithromycin   ·   ╌ Chloramphenicol

0 71k 142k Jan 2021 Dec 2021 Oct 2022 Aug 2023 Jun 2024 Apr 2025 May 2026 Chloramphenicol 175 Jan 2021: 140 Feb 2021: 149 Mar 2021: 175 Apr 2021: 177 May 2021: 205 Jul 2021: 200 Aug 2021: 169 Sep 2021: 195 Oct 2021: 177 Nov 2021: 214 Dec 2021: 210 Jan 2022: 176 Feb 2022: 173 Mar 2022: 200 Apr 2022: 172 May 2022: 189 Jun 2022: 195 Jul 2022: 195 Aug 2022: 215 Sep 2022: 200 Oct 2022: 202 Nov 2022: 223 Dec 2022: 184 Jan 2023: 210 Feb 2023: 186 Mar 2023: 251 Apr 2023: 193 May 2023: 226 Jun 2023: 207 Jul 2023: 212 Aug 2023: 201 Sep 2023: 202 Oct 2023: 193 Nov 2023: 107 Dec 2023: 90 Jan 2024: 63 Feb 2024: 106 Mar 2024: 186 Apr 2024: 165 May 2024: 163 Jun 2024: 179 Jul 2024: 171 Aug 2024: 151 Sep 2024: 134 Oct 2024: 155 Nov 2024: 172 Dec 2024: 169 Jan 2025: 163 Feb 2025: 162 Mar 2025: 192 Apr 2025: 184 May 2025: 203 Jun 2025: 182 Jul 2025: 190 Aug 2025: 201 Sep 2025: 184 Oct 2025: 189 Nov 2025: 167 Dec 2025: 220 Jan 2026: 179 Feb 2026: 177 Mar 2026: 200 Apr 2026: 166 May 2026: 175

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Azithromycin versus Chloramphenicol, May 2026
Measure Azithromycin Chloramphenicol
Items, May 2026 175 74,753
Items, last 12 months 2,230 926,535
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £3,773 £249,218

See the full profile for Azithromycin or Chloramphenicol.