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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Chloramphenicol vs Aciclovir

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

Chloramphenicol was dispensed 257.8× as often as Aciclovir in May 2026 — 74,753 items versus 290 in England.

74,753items

Chloramphenicol · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

290items

Aciclovir · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Chloramphenicol versus Aciclovir: national items dispensed by month

▬ Chloramphenicol   ·   ╌ Aciclovir

0 71k 142k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Aciclovir 74,753 Jan 2021: 59k Feb 2021: 58k Mar 2021: 65k Apr 2021: 58k May 2021: 58k Jun 2021: 74k Jul 2021: 70k Aug 2021: 62k Sep 2021: 68k Oct 2021: 84k Nov 2021: 111k Dec 2021: 122k Jan 2022: 87k Feb 2022: 89k Mar 2022: 93k Apr 2022: 77k May 2022: 77k Jun 2022: 79k Jul 2022: 79k Aug 2022: 71k Sep 2022: 63k Oct 2022: 71k Nov 2022: 83k Dec 2022: 106k Jan 2023: 114k Feb 2023: 129k Mar 2023: 142k Apr 2023: 108k May 2023: 105k Jun 2023: 102k Jul 2023: 81k Aug 2023: 70k Sep 2023: 68k Oct 2023: 71k Nov 2023: 75k Dec 2023: 82k Jan 2024: 92k Feb 2024: 93k Mar 2024: 89k Apr 2024: 81k May 2024: 77k Jun 2024: 72k Jul 2024: 71k Aug 2024: 62k Sep 2024: 61k Oct 2024: 68k Nov 2024: 69k Dec 2024: 79k Jan 2025: 89k Feb 2025: 92k Mar 2025: 91k Apr 2025: 80k May 2025: 73k Jun 2025: 76k Jul 2025: 71k Aug 2025: 59k Sep 2025: 62k Oct 2025: 68k Nov 2025: 67k Dec 2025: 82k Jan 2026: 86k Feb 2026: 100k Mar 2026: 100k Apr 2026: 81k May 2026: 75k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Chloramphenicol versus Aciclovir, May 2026
Measure Chloramphenicol Aciclovir
Items, May 2026 74,753 290
Items, last 12 months 926,535 3,815
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £249,218 £14,273

See the full profile for Chloramphenicol or Aciclovir.