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PharmaInsight

Buprenorphine hydrochloride vs Methadone hydrochloride

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

Methadone hydrochloride was dispensed 1.7× as often as Buprenorphine hydrochloride in March 2026 — 146,262 items versus 85,518 in England.

85,518items

Buprenorphine hydrochloride · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

146,262items

Methadone hydrochloride · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Buprenorphine hydrochloride versus Methadone hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Buprenorphine hydrochloride   ·   ╌ Methadone hydrochloride

Methadone hydroc… 85,518

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026

Buprenorphine hydrochloride versus Methadone hydrochloride, March 2026
Measure Buprenorphine hydrochloride Methadone hydrochloride
Items, March 2026 85,518 146,262
Items, last 12 months 994,930 1,793,212
Net ingredient cost, March 2026 £2,234,789 £934,183

See the full profile for Buprenorphine hydrochloride or Methadone hydrochloride.