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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Budesonide vs Fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol

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

Budesonide was dispensed 3.2× as often as Fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol in May 2026 — 426,847 items versus 133,397 in England.

426,847items

Budesonide · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

133,397items

Fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Budesonide versus Fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol: national items dispensed by month

▬ Budesonide   ·   ╌ Fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol

0 223k 445k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Fluticasone/umec… 426,847 Jan 2021: 290k Feb 2021: 266k Mar 2021: 292k Apr 2021: 282k May 2021: 268k Jun 2021: 286k Jul 2021: 289k Aug 2021: 273k Sep 2021: 288k Oct 2021: 279k Nov 2021: 290k Dec 2021: 310k Jan 2022: 283k Feb 2022: 260k Mar 2022: 295k Apr 2022: 275k May 2022: 287k Jun 2022: 280k Jul 2022: 281k Aug 2022: 284k Sep 2022: 284k Oct 2022: 284k Nov 2022: 293k Dec 2022: 307k Jan 2023: 297k Feb 2023: 271k Mar 2023: 306k Apr 2023: 274k May 2023: 292k Jun 2023: 299k Jul 2023: 289k Aug 2023: 289k Sep 2023: 287k Oct 2023: 297k Nov 2023: 304k Dec 2023: 309k Jan 2024: 315k Feb 2024: 293k Mar 2024: 298k Apr 2024: 306k May 2024: 315k Jun 2024: 297k Jul 2024: 322k Aug 2024: 305k Sep 2024: 303k Oct 2024: 327k Nov 2024: 318k Dec 2024: 337k Jan 2025: 351k Feb 2025: 315k Mar 2025: 340k Apr 2025: 340k May 2025: 361k Jun 2025: 356k Jul 2025: 382k Aug 2025: 350k Sep 2025: 383k Oct 2025: 412k Nov 2025: 393k Dec 2025: 445k Jan 2026: 437k Feb 2026: 401k Mar 2026: 441k Apr 2026: 430k May 2026: 427k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Budesonide versus Fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol, May 2026
Measure Budesonide Fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol
Items, May 2026 426,847 133,397
Items, last 12 months 4,857,771 1,618,398
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £14,450,848 £6,873,426

See the full profile for Budesonide or Fluticasone/umeclidinium/vilanterol.