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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Norethisterone vs Levonorgestrel

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

Levonorgestrel was dispensed 5.2× as often as Norethisterone in May 2026 — 32,361 items versus 6,228 in England.

6,228items

Norethisterone · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

32,361items

Levonorgestrel · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Norethisterone versus Levonorgestrel: national items dispensed by month

▬ Norethisterone   ·   ╌ Levonorgestrel

0 16k 32k Jan 2021 Dec 2021 Oct 2022 Aug 2023 Jun 2024 Apr 2025 May 2026 Levonorgestrel 6,228 Jan 2021: 14k Feb 2021: 12k Mar 2021: 13k Apr 2021: 12k May 2021: 8k Jun 2021: 16k Jul 2021: 14k Aug 2021: 9k Oct 2021: 13k Nov 2021: 12k Dec 2021: 13k Jan 2022: 12k Feb 2022: 11k Mar 2022: 13k Apr 2022: 11k May 2022: 12k Jun 2022: 12k Jul 2022: 11k Aug 2022: 12k Sep 2022: 12k Oct 2022: 11k Nov 2022: 12k Dec 2022: 10k Jan 2023: 11k Feb 2023: 11k Mar 2023: 12k Apr 2023: 10k May 2023: 11k Jun 2023: 11k Jul 2023: 9k Aug 2023: 12k Sep 2023: 10k Oct 2023: 9k Nov 2023: 11k Dec 2023: 7k Jan 2024: 6k Feb 2024: 8k Mar 2024: 10k Apr 2024: 9k May 2024: 9k Jun 2024: 8k Jul 2024: 8k Aug 2024: 8k Sep 2024: 7k Oct 2024: 5k Nov 2024: 4k Dec 2024: 4k Jan 2025: 10k Feb 2025: 7k Mar 2025: 6k Apr 2025: 5k May 2025: 6k Jun 2025: 7k Jul 2025: 8k Aug 2025: 6k Sep 2025: 7k Oct 2025: 7k Nov 2025: 6k Dec 2025: 7k Jan 2026: 7k Feb 2026: 6k Mar 2026: 6k Apr 2026: 6k May 2026: 6k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Norethisterone versus Levonorgestrel, May 2026
Measure Norethisterone Levonorgestrel
Items, May 2026 6,228 32,361
Items, last 12 months 79,512 208,268
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £17,815 £132,394

See the full profile for Norethisterone or Levonorgestrel.