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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Paracetamol vs Oxycodone hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride

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

Paracetamol was dispensed 786.4× as often as Oxycodone hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride in May 2026 — 1,265,243 items versus 1,609 in England.

1,265,243items

Paracetamol · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

1,609items

Oxycodone hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Paracetamol versus Oxycodone hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Paracetamol   ·   ╌ Oxycodone hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride

0 723k 1.4m Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Oxycodone hydroc… 1,265,243 Jan 2021: 1.4m Feb 2021: 1.3m Mar 2021: 1.4m Apr 2021: 1.4m May 2021: 1.3m Jun 2021: 1.4m Jul 2021: 1.4m Aug 2021: 1.3m Sep 2021: 1.4m Oct 2021: 1.3m Nov 2021: 1.4m Dec 2021: 1.4m Jan 2022: 1.4m Feb 2022: 1.2m Mar 2022: 1.4m Apr 2022: 1.3m May 2022: 1.4m Jun 2022: 1.3m Jul 2022: 1.3m Aug 2022: 1.4m Sep 2022: 1.3m Oct 2022: 1.3m Nov 2022: 1.4m Dec 2022: 1.4m Jan 2023: 1.4m Feb 2023: 1.2m Mar 2023: 1.4m Apr 2023: 1.3m May 2023: 1.3m Jun 2023: 1.4m Jul 2023: 1.3m Aug 2023: 1.3m Sep 2023: 1.3m Oct 2023: 1.3m Nov 2023: 1.4m Dec 2023: 1.3m Jan 2024: 1.4m Feb 2024: 1.3m Mar 2024: 1.3m Apr 2024: 1.3m May 2024: 1.4m Jun 2024: 1.3m Jul 2024: 1.4m Aug 2024: 1.3m Sep 2024: 1.3m Oct 2024: 1.4m Nov 2024: 1.3m Dec 2024: 1.4m Jan 2025: 1.4m Feb 2025: 1.2m Mar 2025: 1.3m Apr 2025: 1.3m May 2025: 1.3m Jun 2025: 1.3m Jul 2025: 1.4m Aug 2025: 1.3m Sep 2025: 1.3m Oct 2025: 1.4m Nov 2025: 1.3m Dec 2025: 1.4m Jan 2026: 1.3m Feb 2026: 1.2m Mar 2026: 1.3m Apr 2026: 1.3m May 2026: 1.3m

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Paracetamol versus Oxycodone hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride, May 2026
Measure Paracetamol Oxycodone hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride
Items, May 2026 1,265,243 1,609
Items, last 12 months 15,709,047 19,973
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £5,475,885 £99,381

See the full profile for Paracetamol or Oxycodone hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride.