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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Benzocaine vs Chlorhexidine gluconate

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

Chlorhexidine gluconate was dispensed 101.3× as often as Benzocaine in April 2026 — 19,254 items versus 190 in England.

190items

Benzocaine · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

19,254items

Chlorhexidine gluconate · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Benzocaine versus Chlorhexidine gluconate: national items dispensed by month

▬ Benzocaine   ·   ╌ Chlorhexidine gluconate

0 14k 28k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 Apr 2026 Chlorhexidine gl… 190 Jan 2021: 108 Feb 2021: 123 Mar 2021: 125 Apr 2021: 114 May 2021: 97 Jun 2021: 123 Jul 2021: 102 Aug 2021: 105 Sep 2021: 123 Oct 2021: 111 Nov 2021: 126 Dec 2021: 110 Jan 2022: 138 Feb 2022: 110 Mar 2022: 127 Apr 2022: 129 May 2022: 119 Jun 2022: 119 Jul 2022: 143 Aug 2022: 142 Sep 2022: 132 Oct 2022: 158 Nov 2022: 144 Dec 2022: 135 Jan 2023: 141 Feb 2023: 142 Mar 2023: 147 Apr 2023: 115 May 2023: 134 Jun 2023: 161 Jul 2023: 137 Aug 2023: 138 Sep 2023: 178 Oct 2023: 163 Nov 2023: 187 Dec 2023: 153 Jan 2024: 162 Feb 2024: 143 Mar 2024: 162 Apr 2024: 144 May 2024: 160 Jun 2024: 177 Jul 2024: 176 Aug 2024: 174 Sep 2024: 202 Oct 2024: 200 Nov 2024: 178 Dec 2024: 184 Jan 2025: 199 Feb 2025: 164 Mar 2025: 177 Apr 2025: 195 May 2025: 210 Jun 2025: 214 Jul 2025: 225 Aug 2025: 202 Sep 2025: 214 Oct 2025: 230 Nov 2025: 180 Dec 2025: 187 Jan 2026: 177 Feb 2026: 171 Mar 2026: 193 Apr 2026: 190

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to April 2026

Benzocaine versus Chlorhexidine gluconate, April 2026
Measure Benzocaine Chlorhexidine gluconate
Items, April 2026 190 19,254
Items, last 12 months 2,393 238,186
Net ingredient cost, April 2026 £1,222 £83,578

See the full profile for Benzocaine or Chlorhexidine gluconate.