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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Nicotinamide vs Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide

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

Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide was dispensed 416.9× as often as Nicotinamide in May 2026 — 30,850 items versus 74 in England.

74items

Nicotinamide · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

30,850items

Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Nicotinamide versus Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide: national items dispensed by month

▬ Nicotinamide   ·   ╌ Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide

0 18k 35k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Adapalene and be… 74 Jan 2021: 174 Feb 2021: 161 Mar 2021: 186 Apr 2021: 162 May 2021: 144 Jun 2021: 185 Jul 2021: 157 Aug 2021: 175 Sep 2021: 154 Oct 2021: 133 Nov 2021: 146 Dec 2021: 122 Jan 2022: 133 Feb 2022: 144 Mar 2022: 158 Apr 2022: 149 May 2022: 146 Jun 2022: 137 Jul 2022: 105 Aug 2022: 119 Sep 2022: 123 Oct 2022: 121 Nov 2022: 127 Dec 2022: 115 Jan 2023: 104 Feb 2023: 92 Mar 2023: 121 Apr 2023: 100 May 2023: 107 Jun 2023: 98 Jul 2023: 92 Aug 2023: 105 Sep 2023: 94 Oct 2023: 83 Nov 2023: 91 Dec 2023: 85 Jan 2024: 84 Feb 2024: 78 Mar 2024: 72 Apr 2024: 105 May 2024: 78 Jun 2024: 79 Jul 2024: 90 Aug 2024: 69 Sep 2024: 97 Oct 2024: 90 Nov 2024: 69 Dec 2024: 69 Jan 2025: 102 Feb 2025: 73 Mar 2025: 92 Apr 2025: 91 May 2025: 71 Jun 2025: 72 Jul 2025: 71 Aug 2025: 60 Sep 2025: 78 Oct 2025: 68 Nov 2025: 67 Dec 2025: 67 Jan 2026: 66 Feb 2026: 51 Mar 2026: 55 Apr 2026: 62 May 2026: 74

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Nicotinamide versus Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide, May 2026
Measure Nicotinamide Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide
Items, May 2026 74 30,850
Items, last 12 months 791 389,700
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £689 £840,227

See the full profile for Nicotinamide or Adapalene and benzoyl peroxide.