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PharmaInsight

Fentanyl vs Codeine phosphate

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

Codeine phosphate was dispensed 10.0× as often as Fentanyl in March 2026 — 499,752 items versus 49,945 in England.

49,945items

Fentanyl · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

499,752items

Codeine phosphate · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Fentanyl versus Codeine phosphate: national items dispensed by month

▬ Fentanyl   ·   ╌ Codeine phosphate

Codeine phosphat… 49,945

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026

Fentanyl versus Codeine phosphate, March 2026
Measure Fentanyl Codeine phosphate
Items, March 2026 49,945 499,752
Items, last 12 months 618,732 5,659,640
Net ingredient cost, March 2026 £1,619,682 £1,194,026

See the full profile for Fentanyl or Codeine phosphate.