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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol) vs Zolmitriptan

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

Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol) was dispensed 30.8× as often as Zolmitriptan in May 2026 — 1,180,634 items versus 38,293 in England.

1,180,634items

Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol) · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

38,293items

Zolmitriptan · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol) versus Zolmitriptan: national items dispensed by month

▬ Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol)   ·   ╌ Zolmitriptan

0 669k 1.3m Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Zolmitriptan 1,180,634 Jan 2021: 1.2m Feb 2021: 1.2m Mar 2021: 1.3m Apr 2021: 1.3m May 2021: 1.2m Jun 2021: 1.3m Jul 2021: 1.3m Aug 2021: 1.2m Sep 2021: 1.3m Oct 2021: 1.2m Nov 2021: 1.3m Dec 2021: 1.3m Jan 2022: 1.3m Feb 2022: 1.2m Mar 2022: 1.3m Apr 2022: 1.2m May 2022: 1.3m Jun 2022: 1.3m Jul 2022: 1.2m Aug 2022: 1.3m Sep 2022: 1.3m Oct 2022: 1.3m Nov 2022: 1.3m Dec 2022: 1.3m Jan 2023: 1.3m Feb 2023: 1.2m Mar 2023: 1.3m Apr 2023: 1.2m May 2023: 1.3m Jun 2023: 1.3m Jul 2023: 1.3m Aug 2023: 1.3m Sep 2023: 1.3m Oct 2023: 1.3m Nov 2023: 1.3m Dec 2023: 1.3m Jan 2024: 1.3m Feb 2024: 1.2m Mar 2024: 1.2m Apr 2024: 1.3m May 2024: 1.3m Jun 2024: 1.2m Jul 2024: 1.3m Aug 2024: 1.3m Sep 2024: 1.2m Oct 2024: 1.3m Nov 2024: 1.2m Dec 2024: 1.3m Jan 2025: 1.3m Feb 2025: 1.2m Mar 2025: 1.2m Apr 2025: 1.2m May 2025: 1.3m Jun 2025: 1.2m Jul 2025: 1.3m Aug 2025: 1.2m Sep 2025: 1.3m Oct 2025: 1.3m Nov 2025: 1.2m Dec 2025: 1.3m Jan 2026: 1.2m Feb 2026: 1.1m Mar 2026: 1.2m Apr 2026: 1.2m May 2026: 1.2m

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol) versus Zolmitriptan, May 2026
Measure Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol) Zolmitriptan
Items, May 2026 1,180,634 38,293
Items, last 12 months 14,786,718 453,010
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £6,925,712 £1,364,912

See the full profile for Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol) or Zolmitriptan.