Hydrocortisone vs Prednisolone
National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Prednisolone was dispensed 1.2× as often as Hydrocortisone in March 2026 — 49,886 items versus 42,454 in England.
42,454items
Hydrocortisone · March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
49,886items
Prednisolone · March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
Figure 1. Hydrocortisone versus Prednisolone: national items dispensed by month
▬ Hydrocortisone · ╌ Prednisolone
Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026
| Measure | Hydrocortisone | Prednisolone |
|---|---|---|
| Items, March 2026 | 42,454 | 49,886 |
| Items, last 12 months | 523,113 | 560,740 |
| Net ingredient cost, March 2026 | £276,248 | £139,515 |
See the full profile for Hydrocortisone or Prednisolone.