Paracetamol vs Dihydrocodeine tartrate
National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Paracetamol was dispensed 11.3× as often as Dihydrocodeine tartrate in March 2026 — 1,327,611 items versus 117,529 in England.
1,327,611items
Paracetamol · March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
117,529items
Dihydrocodeine tartrate · March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
Figure 1. Paracetamol versus Dihydrocodeine tartrate: national items dispensed by month
▬ Paracetamol · ╌ Dihydrocodeine tartrate
Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026
| Measure | Paracetamol | Dihydrocodeine tartrate |
|---|---|---|
| Items, March 2026 | 1,327,611 | 117,529 |
| Items, last 12 months | 15,763,745 | 1,378,278 |
| Net ingredient cost, March 2026 | £5,728,363 | £643,380 |
See the full profile for Paracetamol or Dihydrocodeine tartrate.