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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Menthol vs Calamine

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

Menthol was dispensed 5.8× as often as Calamine in May 2026 — 18,392 items versus 3,194 in England.

18,392items

Menthol · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

3,194items

Calamine · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Menthol versus Calamine: national items dispensed by month

▬ Menthol   ·   ╌ Calamine

0 9k 19k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Calamine 18,392 Jan 2021: 11k Feb 2021: 10k Mar 2021: 12k Apr 2021: 12k May 2021: 11k Jun 2021: 12k Jul 2021: 12k Aug 2021: 10k Sep 2021: 11k Oct 2021: 10k Nov 2021: 11k Dec 2021: 11k Jan 2022: 11k Feb 2022: 11k Mar 2022: 13k Apr 2022: 12k May 2022: 12k Jun 2022: 12k Jul 2022: 13k Aug 2022: 13k Sep 2022: 12k Oct 2022: 11k Nov 2022: 12k Dec 2022: 11k Jan 2023: 12k Feb 2023: 12k Mar 2023: 14k Apr 2023: 12k May 2023: 13k Jun 2023: 15k Jul 2023: 14k Aug 2023: 14k Sep 2023: 14k Oct 2023: 14k Nov 2023: 14k Dec 2023: 14k Jan 2024: 15k Feb 2024: 14k Mar 2024: 14k Apr 2024: 16k May 2024: 16k Jun 2024: 15k Jul 2024: 16k Aug 2024: 16k Sep 2024: 15k Oct 2024: 16k Nov 2024: 16k Dec 2024: 15k Jan 2025: 17k Feb 2025: 16k Mar 2025: 17k Apr 2025: 17k May 2025: 17k Jun 2025: 18k Jul 2025: 19k Aug 2025: 17k Sep 2025: 17k Oct 2025: 18k Nov 2025: 17k Dec 2025: 17k Jan 2026: 18k Feb 2026: 17k Mar 2026: 18k Apr 2026: 18k May 2026: 18k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Menthol versus Calamine, May 2026
Measure Menthol Calamine
Items, May 2026 18,392 3,194
Items, last 12 months 212,173 37,529
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £292,252 £10,508

See the full profile for Menthol or Calamine.