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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Nitrous oxide vs Alfentanil hydrochloride

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

Alfentanil hydrochloride was dispensed 91.3× as often as Nitrous oxide in May 2026 — 548 items versus 6 in England.

6items

Nitrous oxide · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

548items

Alfentanil hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Nitrous oxide versus Alfentanil hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Nitrous oxide   ·   ╌ Alfentanil hydrochloride

0 315.5 631 Jan 2021 Sep 2021 Jul 2022 May 2023 Mar 2024 Feb 2025 May 2026 Alfentanil hydro… 6 Jan 2021: 3 Feb 2021: 2 Mar 2021: 2 Apr 2021: 7 May 2021: 1 Jun 2021: 1 Jul 2021: 1 Aug 2021: 3 Sep 2021: 7 Oct 2021: 2 Nov 2021: 1 Dec 2021: 2 Jan 2022: 3 Feb 2022: 5 Mar 2022: 4 Apr 2022: 2 Jul 2022: 2 Sep 2022: 1 Oct 2022: 1 Nov 2022: 1 Dec 2022: 1 Jan 2023: 4 Feb 2023: 2 Mar 2023: 2 May 2023: 5 Jun 2023: 2 Aug 2023: 1 Sep 2023: 2 Oct 2023: 2 Dec 2023: 1 Jan 2024: 1 Feb 2024: 2 Mar 2024: 6 Apr 2024: 1 May 2024: 2 Jun 2024: 4 Oct 2024: 1 Nov 2024: 1 Dec 2024: 2 Jan 2025: 3 Feb 2025: 2 Mar 2025: 1 Apr 2025: 5 May 2025: 5 Jun 2025: 2 Jul 2025: 3 Aug 2025: 3 Sep 2025: 1 Nov 2025: 3 Dec 2025: 2 Jan 2026: 3 Feb 2026: 7 Mar 2026: 1 Apr 2026: 4 May 2026: 6

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Nitrous oxide versus Alfentanil hydrochloride, May 2026
Measure Nitrous oxide Alfentanil hydrochloride
Items, May 2026 6 548
Items, last 12 months 40 6,756
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £3,166 £8,230

See the full profile for Nitrous oxide or Alfentanil hydrochloride.