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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Metoprolol tartrate vs Propranolol hydrochloride

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

Propranolol hydrochloride was dispensed 28.4× as often as Metoprolol tartrate in May 2026 — 690,723 items versus 24,323 in England.

24,323items

Metoprolol tartrate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

690,723items

Propranolol hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Metoprolol tartrate versus Propranolol hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Metoprolol tartrate   ·   ╌ Propranolol hydrochloride

0 368k 736k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Propranolol hydr… 24,323 Jan 2021: 27k Feb 2021: 26k Mar 2021: 29k Apr 2021: 27k May 2021: 26k Jun 2021: 28k Jul 2021: 28k Aug 2021: 27k Sep 2021: 27k Oct 2021: 27k Nov 2021: 27k Dec 2021: 29k Jan 2022: 27k Feb 2022: 26k Mar 2022: 29k Apr 2022: 27k May 2022: 28k Jun 2022: 28k Jul 2022: 27k Aug 2022: 28k Sep 2022: 27k Oct 2022: 28k Nov 2022: 28k Dec 2022: 28k Jan 2023: 28k Feb 2023: 25k Mar 2023: 29k Apr 2023: 26k May 2023: 27k Jun 2023: 27k Jul 2023: 28k Aug 2023: 26k Sep 2023: 27k Oct 2023: 28k Nov 2023: 28k Dec 2023: 28k Jan 2024: 28k Feb 2024: 26k Mar 2024: 26k Apr 2024: 27k May 2024: 27k Jun 2024: 25k Jul 2024: 27k Aug 2024: 26k Sep 2024: 25k Oct 2024: 27k Nov 2024: 25k Dec 2024: 26k Jan 2025: 27k Feb 2025: 24k Mar 2025: 25k Apr 2025: 25k May 2025: 26k Jun 2025: 25k Jul 2025: 27k Aug 2025: 25k Sep 2025: 26k Oct 2025: 26k Nov 2025: 24k Dec 2025: 27k Jan 2026: 26k Feb 2026: 24k Mar 2026: 26k Apr 2026: 25k May 2026: 24k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Metoprolol tartrate versus Propranolol hydrochloride, May 2026
Measure Metoprolol tartrate Propranolol hydrochloride
Items, May 2026 24,323 690,723
Items, last 12 months 303,267 8,375,473
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £325,737 £1,946,611

See the full profile for Metoprolol tartrate or Propranolol hydrochloride.