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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Diclofenac potassium vs Methylprednisolone acetate

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

Methylprednisolone acetate was dispensed 143.1× as often as Diclofenac potassium in May 2026 — 70,715 items versus 494 in England.

494items

Diclofenac potassium · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

70,715items

Methylprednisolone acetate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Diclofenac potassium versus Methylprednisolone acetate: national items dispensed by month

▬ Diclofenac potassium   ·   ╌ Methylprednisolone acetate

0 35k 71k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Methylprednisolo… 494 Jan 2021: 1k Feb 2021: 1k Mar 2021: 1k Apr 2021: 1k May 2021: 1k Jun 2021: 1k Jul 2021: 1k Aug 2021: 1k Sep 2021: 1k Oct 2021: 939 Nov 2021: 821 Dec 2021: 723 Jan 2022: 877 Feb 2022: 779 Mar 2022: 791 Apr 2022: 791 May 2022: 891 Jun 2022: 802 Jul 2022: 875 Aug 2022: 859 Sep 2022: 875 Oct 2022: 852 Nov 2022: 891 Dec 2022: 811 Jan 2023: 848 Feb 2023: 792 Mar 2023: 911 Apr 2023: 806 May 2023: 877 Jun 2023: 896 Jul 2023: 821 Aug 2023: 845 Sep 2023: 845 Oct 2023: 791 Nov 2023: 727 Dec 2023: 651 Jan 2024: 613 Feb 2024: 548 Mar 2024: 539 Apr 2024: 593 May 2024: 577 Jun 2024: 518 Jul 2024: 632 Aug 2024: 547 Sep 2024: 526 Oct 2024: 550 Nov 2024: 508 Dec 2024: 489 Jan 2025: 509 Feb 2025: 442 Mar 2025: 520 Apr 2025: 478 May 2025: 536 Jun 2025: 485 Jul 2025: 536 Aug 2025: 495 Oct 2025: 498 Nov 2025: 452 Dec 2025: 487 Jan 2026: 491 Feb 2026: 447 Mar 2026: 456 Apr 2026: 451 May 2026: 494

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Diclofenac potassium versus Methylprednisolone acetate, May 2026
Measure Diclofenac potassium Methylprednisolone acetate
Items, May 2026 494 70,715
Items, last 12 months 5,828 738,952
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £6,905 £353,654

See the full profile for Diclofenac potassium or Methylprednisolone acetate.