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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Empagliflozin vs Metformin hydrochloride/vildagliptin

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

Empagliflozin was dispensed 165.5× as often as Metformin hydrochloride/vildagliptin in May 2026 — 323,972 items versus 1,957 in England.

323,972items

Empagliflozin · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

1,957items

Metformin hydrochloride/vildagliptin · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Empagliflozin versus Metformin hydrochloride/vildagliptin: national items dispensed by month

▬ Empagliflozin   ·   ╌ Metformin hydrochloride/vildagliptin

0 212k 423k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Metformin hydroc… 323,972 Jan 2021: 160k Feb 2021: 154k Mar 2021: 176k Apr 2021: 173k May 2021: 168k Jun 2021: 183k Jul 2021: 186k Aug 2021: 181k Sep 2021: 189k Oct 2021: 185k Nov 2021: 194k Dec 2021: 207k Jan 2022: 198k Feb 2022: 188k Mar 2022: 216k Apr 2022: 207k May 2022: 220k Jun 2022: 220k Jul 2022: 224k Aug 2022: 235k Sep 2022: 238k Oct 2022: 240k Nov 2022: 249k Dec 2022: 256k Jan 2023: 258k Feb 2023: 242k Mar 2023: 281k Apr 2023: 257k May 2023: 277k Jun 2023: 288k Jul 2023: 287k Aug 2023: 299k Sep 2023: 296k Oct 2023: 303k Nov 2023: 309k Dec 2023: 310k Jan 2024: 322k Feb 2024: 307k Mar 2024: 315k Apr 2024: 330k May 2024: 342k Jun 2024: 324k Jul 2024: 358k Aug 2024: 350k Sep 2024: 346k Oct 2024: 368k Nov 2024: 357k Dec 2024: 370k Jan 2025: 382k Feb 2025: 345k Mar 2025: 371k Apr 2025: 378k May 2025: 396k Jun 2025: 385k Jul 2025: 416k Aug 2025: 385k Sep 2025: 408k Oct 2025: 421k Nov 2025: 388k Dec 2025: 423k Jan 2026: 394k Feb 2026: 351k Mar 2026: 371k Apr 2026: 350k May 2026: 324k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Empagliflozin versus Metformin hydrochloride/vildagliptin, May 2026
Measure Empagliflozin Metformin hydrochloride/vildagliptin
Items, May 2026 323,972 1,957
Items, last 12 months 4,615,976 25,577
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £12,500,182 £50,873

See the full profile for Empagliflozin or Metformin hydrochloride/vildagliptin.