Hydrocortisone vs Prednisolone
National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Prednisolone was dispensed 10.7× as often as Hydrocortisone in March 2026 — 516,172 items versus 48,329 in England.
48,329items
Hydrocortisone · March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
516,172items
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 | 48,329 | 516,172 |
| Items, last 12 months | 557,750 | 6,119,972 |
| Net ingredient cost, March 2026 | £1,167,229 | £1,340,741 |
See the full profile for Hydrocortisone or Prednisolone.