Ibuprofen vs Naproxen
National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Naproxen was dispensed 9.9× as often as Ibuprofen in April 2026 — 622,071 items versus 63,092 in England.
63,092items
Ibuprofen · April 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
622,071items
Naproxen · April 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
Figure 1. Ibuprofen versus Naproxen: national items dispensed by month
▬ Ibuprofen · ╌ Naproxen
Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to April 2026
| Measure | Ibuprofen | Naproxen |
|---|---|---|
| Items, April 2026 | 63,092 | 622,071 |
| Items, last 12 months | 803,758 | 7,541,200 |
| Net ingredient cost, April 2026 | £204,290 | £1,750,177 |