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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Methadone hydrochloride vs Naltrexone hydrochloride

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

Methadone hydrochloride was dispensed 72.9× as often as Naltrexone hydrochloride in May 2026 — 137,667 items versus 1,889 in England.

137,667items

Methadone hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

1,889items

Naltrexone hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Methadone hydrochloride versus Naltrexone hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Methadone hydrochloride   ·   ╌ Naltrexone hydrochloride

0 101k 203k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Naltrexone hydro… 137,667 Jan 2021: 185k Feb 2021: 178k Mar 2021: 203k Apr 2021: 193k May 2021: 182k Jun 2021: 194k Jul 2021: 189k Aug 2021: 188k Sep 2021: 186k Oct 2021: 182k Nov 2021: 187k Dec 2021: 202k Jan 2022: 182k Feb 2022: 170k Mar 2022: 190k Apr 2022: 181k May 2022: 187k Jun 2022: 180k Jul 2022: 176k Aug 2022: 187k Sep 2022: 176k Oct 2022: 173k Nov 2022: 176k Dec 2022: 182k Jan 2023: 177k Feb 2023: 161k Mar 2023: 180k Apr 2023: 166k May 2023: 177k Jun 2023: 171k Jul 2023: 167k Aug 2023: 175k Sep 2023: 161k Oct 2023: 169k Nov 2023: 167k Dec 2023: 171k Jan 2024: 170k Feb 2024: 159k Mar 2024: 161k Apr 2024: 166k May 2024: 172k Jun 2024: 156k Jul 2024: 170k Aug 2024: 165k Sep 2024: 156k Oct 2024: 166k Nov 2024: 154k Dec 2024: 170k Jan 2025: 163k Feb 2025: 145k Mar 2025: 147k Apr 2025: 162k May 2025: 154k Jun 2025: 150k Jul 2025: 157k Aug 2025: 149k Sep 2025: 149k Oct 2025: 151k Nov 2025: 139k Dec 2025: 156k Jan 2026: 146k Feb 2026: 134k Mar 2026: 146k Apr 2026: 142k May 2026: 138k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Methadone hydrochloride versus Naltrexone hydrochloride, May 2026
Measure Methadone hydrochloride Naltrexone hydrochloride
Items, May 2026 137,667 1,889
Items, last 12 months 1,757,297 20,895
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £914,147 £227,505

See the full profile for Methadone hydrochloride or Naltrexone hydrochloride.