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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Mepivacaine hydrochloride vs Bupivacaine hydrochloride

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

Bupivacaine hydrochloride was dispensed 11.6× as often as Mepivacaine hydrochloride in May 2026 — 2,961 items versus 256 in England.

256items

Mepivacaine hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

2,961items

Bupivacaine hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Mepivacaine hydrochloride versus Bupivacaine hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Mepivacaine hydrochloride   ·   ╌ Bupivacaine hydrochloride

0 1k 3k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Bupivacaine hydr… 256 Jan 2021: 145 Feb 2021: 153 Mar 2021: 189 Apr 2021: 144 May 2021: 195 Jun 2021: 187 Jul 2021: 217 Aug 2021: 182 Sep 2021: 224 Oct 2021: 323 Nov 2021: 299 Dec 2021: 174 Jan 2022: 187 Feb 2022: 214 Mar 2022: 259 Apr 2022: 220 May 2022: 216 Jun 2022: 259 Jul 2022: 156 Aug 2022: 174 Sep 2022: 228 Oct 2022: 207 Nov 2022: 222 Dec 2022: 189 Jan 2023: 138 Feb 2023: 188 Mar 2023: 224 Apr 2023: 115 May 2023: 215 Jun 2023: 190 Jul 2023: 161 Aug 2023: 139 Sep 2023: 153 Oct 2023: 190 Nov 2023: 229 Dec 2023: 135 Jan 2024: 292 Feb 2024: 207 Mar 2024: 207 Apr 2024: 503 May 2024: 196 Jun 2024: 225 Jul 2024: 212 Aug 2024: 237 Sep 2024: 259 Oct 2024: 230 Nov 2024: 193 Dec 2024: 191 Jan 2025: 210 Feb 2025: 233 Mar 2025: 310 Apr 2025: 245 May 2025: 213 Jun 2025: 242 Jul 2025: 214 Aug 2025: 259 Sep 2025: 261 Oct 2025: 228 Nov 2025: 271 Dec 2025: 361 Jan 2026: 271 Feb 2026: 244 Mar 2026: 271 Apr 2026: 208 May 2026: 256

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Mepivacaine hydrochloride versus Bupivacaine hydrochloride, May 2026
Measure Mepivacaine hydrochloride Bupivacaine hydrochloride
Items, May 2026 256 2,961
Items, last 12 months 3,086 30,705
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £353 £14,916

See the full profile for Mepivacaine hydrochloride or Bupivacaine hydrochloride.