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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Hydrocortisone vs Prednisone

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

Hydrocortisone was dispensed 46,354.0× as often as Prednisone in May 2026 — 46,354 items versus 1 in England.

46,354items

Hydrocortisone · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

1items

Prednisone · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Hydrocortisone versus Prednisone: national items dispensed by month

▬ Hydrocortisone   ·   ╌ Prednisone

0 25k 50k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Prednisone 46,354 Jan 2021: 37k Feb 2021: 34k Mar 2021: 38k Apr 2021: 37k May 2021: 35k Jun 2021: 38k Jul 2021: 39k Aug 2021: 37k Sep 2021: 39k Oct 2021: 37k Nov 2021: 39k Dec 2021: 41k Jan 2022: 39k Feb 2022: 36k Mar 2022: 41k Apr 2022: 38k May 2022: 40k Jun 2022: 39k Jul 2022: 40k Aug 2022: 41k Sep 2022: 41k Oct 2022: 41k Nov 2022: 41k Dec 2022: 42k Jan 2023: 42k Feb 2023: 38k Mar 2023: 43k Apr 2023: 39k May 2023: 42k Jun 2023: 43k Jul 2023: 42k Aug 2023: 43k Sep 2023: 42k Oct 2023: 43k Nov 2023: 43k Dec 2023: 44k Jan 2024: 45k Feb 2024: 42k Mar 2024: 43k Apr 2024: 45k May 2024: 46k Jun 2024: 43k Jul 2024: 47k Aug 2024: 45k Sep 2024: 44k Oct 2024: 47k Nov 2024: 45k Dec 2024: 47k Jan 2025: 47k Feb 2025: 42k Mar 2025: 44k Apr 2025: 45k May 2025: 46k Jun 2025: 45k Jul 2025: 48k Aug 2025: 44k Sep 2025: 47k Oct 2025: 48k Nov 2025: 45k Dec 2025: 50k Jan 2026: 47k Feb 2026: 44k Mar 2026: 48k Apr 2026: 47k May 2026: 46k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Hydrocortisone versus Prednisone, May 2026
Measure Hydrocortisone Prednisone
Items, May 2026 46,354 1
Items, last 12 months 560,262 6
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £1,190,537 £27

See the full profile for Hydrocortisone or Prednisone.