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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Insulin Lispro vs Metformin hydrochloride

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

Metformin hydrochloride was dispensed 55.2× as often as Insulin Lispro in May 2026 — 2,247,052 items versus 40,729 in England.

40,729items

Insulin Lispro · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

2,247,052items

Metformin hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Insulin Lispro versus Metformin hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Insulin Lispro   ·   ╌ Metformin hydrochloride

0 1.2m 2.4m Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Metformin hydroc… 40,729 Jan 2021: 34k Feb 2021: 32k Mar 2021: 36k Apr 2021: 35k May 2021: 34k Jun 2021: 37k Jul 2021: 36k Aug 2021: 34k Sep 2021: 36k Oct 2021: 35k Nov 2021: 36k Dec 2021: 40k Jan 2022: 36k Feb 2022: 33k Mar 2022: 39k Apr 2022: 36k May 2022: 38k Jun 2022: 37k Jul 2022: 37k Aug 2022: 38k Sep 2022: 37k Oct 2022: 37k Nov 2022: 38k Dec 2022: 40k Jan 2023: 39k Feb 2023: 35k Mar 2023: 41k Apr 2023: 36k May 2023: 39k Jun 2023: 40k Jul 2023: 39k Aug 2023: 39k Sep 2023: 39k Oct 2023: 40k Nov 2023: 40k Dec 2023: 42k Jan 2024: 41k Feb 2024: 39k Mar 2024: 39k Apr 2024: 42k May 2024: 43k Jun 2024: 40k Jul 2024: 44k Aug 2024: 41k Sep 2024: 40k Oct 2024: 42k Nov 2024: 41k Dec 2024: 43k Jan 2025: 42k Feb 2025: 38k Mar 2025: 41k Apr 2025: 41k May 2025: 43k Jun 2025: 41k Jul 2025: 43k Aug 2025: 39k Sep 2025: 41k Oct 2025: 43k Nov 2025: 40k Dec 2025: 44k Jan 2026: 42k Feb 2026: 38k Mar 2026: 42k Apr 2026: 41k May 2026: 41k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Insulin Lispro versus Metformin hydrochloride, May 2026
Measure Insulin Lispro Metformin hydrochloride
Items, May 2026 40,729 2,247,052
Items, last 12 months 496,718 27,404,281
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £1,977,184 £4,969,944

See the full profile for Insulin Lispro or Metformin hydrochloride.