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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Bilastine vs Promethazine hydrochloride

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

Promethazine hydrochloride was dispensed 509.3× as often as Bilastine in May 2026 — 234,806 items versus 461 in England.

461items

Bilastine · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

234,806items

Promethazine hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Bilastine versus Promethazine hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Bilastine   ·   ╌ Promethazine hydrochloride

0 127k 255k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Promethazine hyd… 461 Jan 2021: 115 Feb 2021: 135 Mar 2021: 159 Apr 2021: 169 May 2021: 163 Jun 2021: 221 Jul 2021: 236 Aug 2021: 158 Sep 2021: 167 Oct 2021: 170 Nov 2021: 172 Dec 2021: 170 Jan 2022: 166 Feb 2022: 182 Mar 2022: 181 Apr 2022: 218 May 2022: 235 Jun 2022: 260 Jul 2022: 263 Aug 2022: 228 Sep 2022: 224 Oct 2022: 207 Nov 2022: 228 Dec 2022: 181 Jan 2023: 219 Feb 2023: 209 Mar 2023: 283 Apr 2023: 251 May 2023: 309 Jun 2023: 350 Jul 2023: 302 Aug 2023: 274 Sep 2023: 280 Oct 2023: 266 Nov 2023: 251 Dec 2023: 268 Jan 2024: 278 Feb 2024: 262 Mar 2024: 292 Apr 2024: 318 May 2024: 347 Jun 2024: 407 Jul 2024: 408 Aug 2024: 352 Sep 2024: 317 Oct 2024: 321 Nov 2024: 336 Dec 2024: 333 Jan 2025: 324 Feb 2025: 327 Mar 2025: 391 Apr 2025: 414 May 2025: 427 Jun 2025: 441 Jul 2025: 443 Aug 2025: 392 Sep 2025: 385 Oct 2025: 360 Nov 2025: 363 Jan 2026: 378 Feb 2026: 404 Mar 2026: 422 Apr 2026: 476 May 2026: 461

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Bilastine versus Promethazine hydrochloride, May 2026
Measure Bilastine Promethazine hydrochloride
Items, May 2026 461 234,806
Items, last 12 months 4,952 2,893,211
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £4,166 £437,542

See the full profile for Bilastine or Promethazine hydrochloride.