Skip to content
PharmaInsight

Methyl salicylate vs Ibuprofen

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

Ibuprofen was dispensed 281.8× as often as Methyl salicylate in March 2026 — 331,436 items versus 1,176 in England.

1,176items

Methyl salicylate · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

331,436items

Ibuprofen · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Methyl salicylate versus Ibuprofen: national items dispensed by month

▬ Methyl salicylate   ·   ╌ Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen 1,176

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026

Methyl salicylate versus Ibuprofen, March 2026
Measure Methyl salicylate Ibuprofen
Items, March 2026 1,176 331,436
Items, last 12 months 14,693 3,893,683
Net ingredient cost, March 2026 £8,277 £1,427,391

See the full profile for Methyl salicylate or Ibuprofen.