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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Nalmefene vs Nicotine

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

Nicotine was dispensed 166.3× as often as Nalmefene in May 2026 — 19,460 items versus 117 in England.

117items

Nalmefene · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

19,460items

Nicotine · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Nalmefene versus Nicotine: national items dispensed by month

▬ Nalmefene   ·   ╌ Nicotine

0 18k 36k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Nicotine 117 Jan 2021: 88 Feb 2021: 89 Mar 2021: 90 Apr 2021: 93 May 2021: 79 Jun 2021: 96 Jul 2021: 92 Aug 2021: 74 Sep 2021: 93 Oct 2021: 79 Nov 2021: 85 Dec 2021: 97 Jan 2022: 85 Feb 2022: 77 Mar 2022: 96 Apr 2022: 83 May 2022: 94 Jun 2022: 99 Jul 2022: 91 Aug 2022: 93 Sep 2022: 104 Oct 2022: 87 Nov 2022: 84 Dec 2022: 91 Jan 2023: 77 Feb 2023: 88 Mar 2023: 101 Apr 2023: 101 May 2023: 102 Jun 2023: 106 Jul 2023: 112 Aug 2023: 124 Sep 2023: 110 Oct 2023: 107 Nov 2023: 123 Dec 2023: 117 Jan 2024: 117 Feb 2024: 100 Mar 2024: 98 Apr 2024: 111 May 2024: 117 Jun 2024: 107 Jul 2024: 95 Aug 2024: 90 Sep 2024: 103 Oct 2024: 97 Nov 2024: 118 Dec 2024: 115 Jan 2025: 108 Feb 2025: 97 Mar 2025: 110 Apr 2025: 97 May 2025: 89 Jun 2025: 97 Jul 2025: 90 Aug 2025: 91 Sep 2025: 81 Oct 2025: 92 Nov 2025: 101 Dec 2025: 99 Jan 2026: 90 Feb 2026: 95 Mar 2026: 106 Apr 2026: 109 May 2026: 117

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Nalmefene versus Nicotine, May 2026
Measure Nalmefene Nicotine
Items, May 2026 117 19,460
Items, last 12 months 1,168 256,748
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £7,730 £698,525

See the full profile for Nalmefene or Nicotine.