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PharmaInsight

Ibuprofen vs Methotrexate

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

Methotrexate was dispensed 2.9× as often as Ibuprofen in March 2026 — 190,005 items versus 65,888 in England.

65,888items

Ibuprofen · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

190,005items

Methotrexate · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Ibuprofen versus Methotrexate: national items dispensed by month

▬ Ibuprofen   ·   ╌ Methotrexate

Methotrexate 65,888

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026

Ibuprofen versus Methotrexate, March 2026
Measure Ibuprofen Methotrexate
Items, March 2026 65,888 190,005
Items, last 12 months 809,706 2,236,642
Net ingredient cost, March 2026 £214,814 £2,295,534

See the full profile for Ibuprofen or Methotrexate.