Nicotine vs Varenicline tartrate
National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Nicotine was dispensed 2.4× as often as Varenicline tartrate in March 2026 — 21,967 items versus 9,010 in England.
21,967items
Nicotine · March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
9,010items
Varenicline tartrate · March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
Figure 1. Nicotine versus Varenicline tartrate: national items dispensed by month
▬ Nicotine · ╌ Varenicline tartrate
Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026
| Measure | Nicotine | Varenicline tartrate |
|---|---|---|
| Items, March 2026 | 21,967 | 9,010 |
| Items, last 12 months | 266,922 | 106,960 |
| Net ingredient cost, March 2026 | £756,602 | £341,732 |
See the full profile for Nicotine or Varenicline tartrate.