Skip to content
Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Menthol vs Lidocaine hydrochloride

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

Menthol was dispensed 9,181.5× as often as Lidocaine hydrochloride in April 2026 — 18,363 items versus 2 in England.

18,363items

Menthol · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

2items

Lidocaine hydrochloride · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Menthol versus Lidocaine hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Menthol   ·   ╌ Lidocaine hydrochloride

0 9k 19k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 Apr 2026 Lidocaine hydroc… 18,363 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

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to April 2026

Menthol versus Lidocaine hydrochloride, April 2026
Measure Menthol Lidocaine hydrochloride
Items, April 2026 18,363 2
Items, last 12 months 211,241 41
Net ingredient cost, April 2026 £293,083 £12

See the full profile for Menthol or Lidocaine hydrochloride.