Buprenorphine vs Codeine phosphate
National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Codeine phosphate was dispensed 2.1× as often as Buprenorphine in March 2026 — 499,752 items versus 233,896 in England.
233,896items
Buprenorphine · March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
499,752items
Codeine phosphate · March 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 March 2026
| Measure | Buprenorphine | Codeine phosphate |
|---|---|---|
| Items, March 2026 | 233,896 | 499,752 |
| Items, last 12 months | 2,762,051 | 5,659,640 |
| Net ingredient cost, March 2026 | £3,873,919 | £1,194,026 |
See the full profile for Buprenorphine or Codeine phosphate.