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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Ibuprofen vs Freeze sprays and gels

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

Ibuprofen was dispensed 63,944.8× as often as Freeze sprays and gels in May 2026 — 319,724 items versus 5 in England.

319,724items

Ibuprofen · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

5items

Freeze sprays and gels · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Ibuprofen versus Freeze sprays and gels: national items dispensed by month

▬ Ibuprofen   ·   ╌ Freeze sprays and gels

0 171k 342k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Freeze sprays an… 319,724 Jan 2021: 275k Feb 2021: 254k Mar 2021: 305k Apr 2021: 294k May 2021: 280k Jun 2021: 301k Jul 2021: 298k Aug 2021: 284k Sep 2021: 302k Oct 2021: 284k Nov 2021: 291k Dec 2021: 293k Jan 2022: 282k Feb 2022: 272k Mar 2022: 314k Apr 2022: 288k May 2022: 308k Jun 2022: 299k Jul 2022: 295k Aug 2022: 304k Sep 2022: 304k Oct 2022: 290k Nov 2022: 298k Dec 2022: 279k Jan 2023: 286k Feb 2023: 271k Mar 2023: 311k Apr 2023: 276k May 2023: 304k Jun 2023: 316k Jul 2023: 303k Aug 2023: 311k Sep 2023: 307k Oct 2023: 309k Nov 2023: 310k Dec 2023: 293k Jan 2024: 310k Feb 2024: 295k Mar 2024: 300k Apr 2024: 314k May 2024: 325k Jun 2024: 306k Jul 2024: 332k Aug 2024: 318k Sep 2024: 315k Oct 2024: 328k Nov 2024: 310k Dec 2024: 308k Jan 2025: 321k Feb 2025: 290k Mar 2025: 315k Apr 2025: 317k May 2025: 332k Jun 2025: 323k Jul 2025: 342k Aug 2025: 313k Sep 2025: 335k Oct 2025: 340k Nov 2025: 309k Dec 2025: 329k Jan 2026: 324k Feb 2026: 299k Mar 2026: 331k Apr 2026: 330k May 2026: 320k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Ibuprofen versus Freeze sprays and gels, May 2026
Measure Ibuprofen Freeze sprays and gels
Items, May 2026 319,724 5
Items, last 12 months 3,894,488 70
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £1,385,245 £15

See the full profile for Ibuprofen or Freeze sprays and gels.