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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Megestrol acetate vs Tamoxifen citrate

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

Tamoxifen citrate was dispensed 106.6× as often as Megestrol acetate in May 2026 — 38,172 items versus 358 in England.

358items

Megestrol acetate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

38,172items

Tamoxifen citrate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Megestrol acetate versus Tamoxifen citrate: national items dispensed by month

▬ Megestrol acetate   ·   ╌ Tamoxifen citrate

0 27k 54k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Tamoxifen citrat… 358 Jan 2021: 531 Feb 2021: 479 Mar 2021: 572 Apr 2021: 543 May 2021: 532 Jun 2021: 555 Jul 2021: 575 Aug 2021: 527 Sep 2021: 468 Oct 2021: 407 Nov 2021: 619 Dec 2021: 549 Jan 2022: 500 Feb 2022: 504 Mar 2022: 594 Apr 2022: 535 May 2022: 547 Jun 2022: 544 Jul 2022: 548 Aug 2022: 599 Sep 2022: 590 Oct 2022: 586 Nov 2022: 554 Dec 2022: 460 Jan 2023: 616 Feb 2023: 563 Mar 2023: 634 Apr 2023: 593 May 2023: 636 Jun 2023: 604 Jul 2023: 633 Aug 2023: 652 Sep 2023: 593 Oct 2023: 618 Nov 2023: 624 Dec 2023: 609 Jan 2024: 604 Feb 2024: 542 Mar 2024: 402 Apr 2024: 600 May 2024: 541 Jun 2024: 534 Jul 2024: 549 Aug 2024: 479 Sep 2024: 395 Oct 2024: 437 Nov 2024: 462 Dec 2024: 467 Jan 2025: 468 Feb 2025: 299 Mar 2025: 293 Apr 2025: 233 May 2025: 208 Jun 2025: 170 Jul 2025: 251 Aug 2025: 298 Sep 2025: 329 Oct 2025: 336 Nov 2025: 308 Dec 2025: 367 Jan 2026: 325 Feb 2026: 305 Mar 2026: 368 Apr 2026: 378 May 2026: 358

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Megestrol acetate versus Tamoxifen citrate, May 2026
Measure Megestrol acetate Tamoxifen citrate
Items, May 2026 358 38,172
Items, last 12 months 3,793 484,118
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £8,011 £264,528

See the full profile for Megestrol acetate or Tamoxifen citrate.