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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Benzydamine hydrochloride vs Chlorhexidine gluconate

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

Chlorhexidine gluconate was dispensed 159.2× as often as Benzydamine hydrochloride in May 2026 — 18,462 items versus 116 in England.

116items

Benzydamine hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

18,462items

Chlorhexidine gluconate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

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

▬ Benzydamine hydrochloride   ·   ╌ Chlorhexidine gluconate

0 14k 28k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Chlorhexidine gl… 116 Jan 2021: 73 Feb 2021: 80 Mar 2021: 63 Apr 2021: 67 May 2021: 62 Jun 2021: 54 Jul 2021: 67 Aug 2021: 64 Sep 2021: 52 Oct 2021: 71 Nov 2021: 69 Dec 2021: 97 Jan 2022: 75 Feb 2022: 85 Mar 2022: 107 Apr 2022: 92 May 2022: 108 Jun 2022: 100 Jul 2022: 85 Aug 2022: 116 Sep 2022: 98 Oct 2022: 105 Nov 2022: 115 Dec 2022: 135 Jan 2023: 112 Feb 2023: 107 Mar 2023: 116 Apr 2023: 83 May 2023: 107 Jun 2023: 111 Jul 2023: 119 Aug 2023: 116 Sep 2023: 120 Oct 2023: 119 Nov 2023: 145 Dec 2023: 136 Jan 2024: 140 Feb 2024: 124 Mar 2024: 135 Apr 2024: 122 May 2024: 113 Jun 2024: 101 Jul 2024: 116 Aug 2024: 105 Sep 2024: 109 Oct 2024: 134 Nov 2024: 109 Dec 2024: 108 Jan 2025: 114 Feb 2025: 107 Mar 2025: 100 Apr 2025: 125 May 2025: 105 Jun 2025: 88 Jul 2025: 117 Aug 2025: 82 Sep 2025: 101 Oct 2025: 108 Nov 2025: 119 Dec 2025: 125 Jan 2026: 127 Feb 2026: 114 Mar 2026: 129 Apr 2026: 112 May 2026: 116

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Benzydamine hydrochloride versus Chlorhexidine gluconate, May 2026
Measure Benzydamine hydrochloride Chlorhexidine gluconate
Items, May 2026 116 18,462
Items, last 12 months 1,338 236,015
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £643 £80,227

See the full profile for Benzydamine hydrochloride or Chlorhexidine gluconate.