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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Meropenem vs Nitrofurantoin

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

Nitrofurantoin was dispensed 55,623.5× as often as Meropenem in May 2026 — 333,741 items versus 6 in England.

6items

Meropenem · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

333,741items

Nitrofurantoin · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Meropenem versus Nitrofurantoin: national items dispensed by month

▬ Meropenem   ·   ╌ Nitrofurantoin

0 204k 408k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Nitrofurantoin 6 Jan 2021: 14 Feb 2021: 15 Mar 2021: 15 Apr 2021: 14 May 2021: 12 Jun 2021: 9 Jul 2021: 14 Aug 2021: 9 Sep 2021: 13 Oct 2021: 11 Nov 2021: 9 Dec 2021: 10 Jan 2022: 8 Feb 2022: 8 Mar 2022: 11 Apr 2022: 12 May 2022: 12 Jun 2022: 6 Jul 2022: 6 Aug 2022: 12 Sep 2022: 5 Oct 2022: 6 Nov 2022: 14 Dec 2022: 6 Jan 2023: 6 Feb 2023: 15 Mar 2023: 7 Apr 2023: 5 May 2023: 10 Jun 2023: 9 Jul 2023: 13 Aug 2023: 18 Sep 2023: 8 Oct 2023: 15 Nov 2023: 5 Dec 2023: 10 Jan 2024: 7 Feb 2024: 7 Mar 2024: 9 Apr 2024: 4 May 2024: 13 Jun 2024: 5 Jul 2024: 10 Aug 2024: 11 Sep 2024: 10 Oct 2024: 10 Nov 2024: 10 Dec 2024: 10 Jan 2025: 3 Feb 2025: 7 Mar 2025: 6 Apr 2025: 6 May 2025: 6 Jun 2025: 7 Jul 2025: 8 Aug 2025: 4 Sep 2025: 13 Oct 2025: 7 Nov 2025: 7 Dec 2025: 7 Jan 2026: 8 Feb 2026: 9 Mar 2026: 6 Apr 2026: 4 May 2026: 6

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Meropenem versus Nitrofurantoin, May 2026
Measure Meropenem Nitrofurantoin
Items, May 2026 6 333,741
Items, last 12 months 86 4,416,505
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £3,435 £2,268,636

See the full profile for Meropenem or Nitrofurantoin.