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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Betamethasone vs Hydrocortisone

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

Hydrocortisone was dispensed 15,451.3× as often as Betamethasone in May 2026 — 46,354 items versus 3 in England.

3items

Betamethasone · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

46,354items

Hydrocortisone · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Betamethasone versus Hydrocortisone: national items dispensed by month

▬ Betamethasone   ·   ╌ Hydrocortisone

0 25k 50k Feb 2021 Jan 2022 Dec 2022 Jan 2024 Aug 2024 May 2025 May 2026 Hydrocortisone 3 Feb 2021: 1 Mar 2021: 2 Apr 2021: 1 May 2021: 1 Jun 2021: 1 Nov 2021: 2 Dec 2021: 1 Jan 2022: 1 Feb 2022: 1 Apr 2022: 2 Jul 2022: 2 Sep 2022: 1 Oct 2022: 2 Nov 2022: 1 Dec 2022: 3 Feb 2023: 2 Mar 2023: 5 Apr 2023: 3 May 2023: 1 Jun 2023: 3 Nov 2023: 1 Jan 2024: 1 Feb 2024: 1 Mar 2024: 1 Apr 2024: 2 May 2024: 1 Jun 2024: 2 Jul 2024: 3 Aug 2024: 2 Sep 2024: 2 Oct 2024: 1 Nov 2024: 2 Dec 2024: 1 Jan 2025: 5 Mar 2025: 2 May 2025: 4 Jun 2025: 3 Jul 2025: 1 Aug 2025: 2 Sep 2025: 2 Oct 2025: 3 Dec 2025: 2 Jan 2026: 3 Feb 2026: 2 Mar 2026: 5 Apr 2026: 2 May 2026: 3

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Betamethasone versus Hydrocortisone, May 2026
Measure Betamethasone Hydrocortisone
Items, May 2026 3 46,354
Items, last 12 months 32 560,262
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £109 £1,190,537

See the full profile for Betamethasone or Hydrocortisone.