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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Dextromethorphan hydrobromide vs Diphenhydramine hydrochloride

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

Dextromethorphan hydrobromide was dispensed 56.0× as often as Diphenhydramine hydrochloride in May 2026 — 112 items versus 2 in England.

112items

Dextromethorphan hydrobromide · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

2items

Diphenhydramine hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Dextromethorphan hydrobromide versus Diphenhydramine hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Dextromethorphan hydrobromide   ·   ╌ Diphenhydramine hydrochloride

0 110.5 221 Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Diphenhydramine… 112 Jan 2021: 79 Feb 2021: 73 Mar 2021: 80 Apr 2021: 70 May 2021: 56 Jun 2021: 76 Jul 2021: 78 Aug 2021: 71 Sep 2021: 99 Oct 2021: 106 Nov 2021: 117 Dec 2021: 131 Jan 2022: 116 Feb 2022: 114 Mar 2022: 120 Apr 2022: 79 May 2022: 73 Jun 2022: 44 Jul 2022: 50 Aug 2022: 40 Sep 2022: 46 Oct 2022: 32 Nov 2022: 48 Dec 2022: 58 Jan 2023: 120 Feb 2023: 95 Mar 2023: 89 Apr 2023: 83 May 2023: 101 Jun 2023: 80 Jul 2023: 78 Aug 2023: 97 Sep 2023: 92 Oct 2023: 94 Nov 2023: 125 Dec 2023: 116 Jan 2024: 152 Feb 2024: 124 Mar 2024: 126 Apr 2024: 123 May 2024: 152 Jun 2024: 119 Jul 2024: 149 Aug 2024: 127 Sep 2024: 121 Oct 2024: 157 Nov 2024: 162 Dec 2024: 176 Jan 2025: 159 Feb 2025: 145 Mar 2025: 175 Apr 2025: 153 May 2025: 147 Jun 2025: 133 Jul 2025: 131 Aug 2025: 117 Sep 2025: 129 Oct 2025: 160 Nov 2025: 125 Dec 2025: 214 Jan 2026: 221 Feb 2026: 159 Mar 2026: 159 Apr 2026: 155 May 2026: 112

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Dextromethorphan hydrobromide versus Diphenhydramine hydrochloride, May 2026
Measure Dextromethorphan hydrobromide Diphenhydramine hydrochloride
Items, May 2026 112 2
Items, last 12 months 1,815 21
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £1,152 £7

See the full profile for Dextromethorphan hydrobromide or Diphenhydramine hydrochloride.