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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Ferrous sulfate vs Epoetin beta

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

Ferrous sulfate was dispensed 8,627.9× as often as Epoetin beta in May 2026 — 336,487 items versus 39 in England.

336,487items

Ferrous sulfate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

39items

Epoetin beta · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Ferrous sulfate versus Epoetin beta: national items dispensed by month

▬ Ferrous sulfate   ·   ╌ Epoetin beta

0 176k 351k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Epoetin beta 336,487 Jan 2021: 235k Feb 2021: 221k Mar 2021: 249k Apr 2021: 242k May 2021: 234k Jun 2021: 253k Jul 2021: 255k Aug 2021: 244k Sep 2021: 251k Oct 2021: 241k Nov 2021: 252k Dec 2021: 261k Jan 2022: 250k Feb 2022: 238k Mar 2022: 272k Apr 2022: 254k May 2022: 271k Jun 2022: 266k Jul 2022: 268k Aug 2022: 276k Sep 2022: 273k Oct 2022: 270k Nov 2022: 276k Dec 2022: 269k Jan 2023: 272k Feb 2023: 254k Mar 2023: 291k Apr 2023: 259k May 2023: 282k Jun 2023: 289k Jul 2023: 284k Aug 2023: 289k Sep 2023: 283k Oct 2023: 287k Nov 2023: 290k Dec 2023: 282k Jan 2024: 294k Feb 2024: 281k Mar 2024: 289k Apr 2024: 299k May 2024: 311k Jun 2024: 295k Jul 2024: 322k Aug 2024: 308k Sep 2024: 303k Oct 2024: 322k Nov 2024: 308k Dec 2024: 311k Jan 2025: 321k Feb 2025: 292k Mar 2025: 314k Apr 2025: 316k May 2025: 330k Jun 2025: 327k Jul 2025: 351k Aug 2025: 319k Sep 2025: 338k Oct 2025: 347k Nov 2025: 322k Dec 2025: 348k Jan 2026: 340k Feb 2026: 317k Mar 2026: 350k Apr 2026: 342k May 2026: 336k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Ferrous sulfate versus Epoetin beta, May 2026
Measure Ferrous sulfate Epoetin beta
Items, May 2026 336,487 39
Items, last 12 months 4,037,407 611
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £545,211 £18,209

See the full profile for Ferrous sulfate or Epoetin beta.