Buprenorphine vs Codeine phosphate
National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Codeine phosphate was dispensed 2.1× as often as Buprenorphine in May 2026 — 476,175 items versus 227,606 in England.
227,606items
Buprenorphine · May 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
476,175items
Codeine phosphate · May 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
Figure 1. Buprenorphine versus Codeine phosphate: national items dispensed by month
▬ Buprenorphine · ╌ Codeine phosphate
Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026
| Measure | Buprenorphine | Codeine phosphate |
|---|---|---|
| Items, May 2026 | 227,606 | 476,175 |
| Items, last 12 months | 2,766,880 | 5,689,284 |
| Net ingredient cost, May 2026 | £3,757,192 | £1,285,900 |
See the full profile for Buprenorphine or Codeine phosphate.