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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Hydromorphone hydrochloride vs Morphine sulfate

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

Morphine sulfate was dispensed 1,321.9× as often as Hydromorphone hydrochloride in May 2026 — 404,508 items versus 306 in England.

306items

Hydromorphone hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

404,508items

Morphine sulfate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Hydromorphone hydrochloride versus Morphine sulfate: national items dispensed by month

▬ Hydromorphone hydrochloride   ·   ╌ Morphine sulfate

0 227k 454k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Morphine sulfate 306 Jan 2021: 597 Feb 2021: 521 Mar 2021: 628 Apr 2021: 578 May 2021: 532 Jun 2021: 598 Jul 2021: 568 Aug 2021: 586 Sep 2021: 561 Oct 2021: 535 Nov 2021: 567 Dec 2021: 597 Jan 2022: 528 Feb 2022: 490 Mar 2022: 590 Apr 2022: 509 May 2022: 551 Jun 2022: 511 Jul 2022: 515 Aug 2022: 578 Sep 2022: 557 Oct 2022: 487 Nov 2022: 538 Dec 2022: 501 Jan 2023: 487 Feb 2023: 424 Mar 2023: 498 Apr 2023: 480 May 2023: 470 Jun 2023: 507 Jul 2023: 493 Aug 2023: 484 Sep 2023: 446 Oct 2023: 432 Nov 2023: 431 Dec 2023: 429 Jan 2024: 452 Feb 2024: 425 Mar 2024: 402 Apr 2024: 396 May 2024: 432 Jun 2024: 406 Jul 2024: 381 Aug 2024: 386 Sep 2024: 380 Oct 2024: 375 Nov 2024: 328 Dec 2024: 355 Jan 2025: 359 Feb 2025: 313 Mar 2025: 350 Apr 2025: 298 May 2025: 340 Jun 2025: 299 Jul 2025: 371 Aug 2025: 306 Sep 2025: 332 Oct 2025: 335 Nov 2025: 314 Dec 2025: 321 Jan 2026: 310 Feb 2026: 275 Mar 2026: 292 Apr 2026: 303 May 2026: 306

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Hydromorphone hydrochloride versus Morphine sulfate, May 2026
Measure Hydromorphone hydrochloride Morphine sulfate
Items, May 2026 306 404,508
Items, last 12 months 3,764 4,990,364
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £8,143 £2,301,425

See the full profile for Hydromorphone hydrochloride or Morphine sulfate.