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PharmaInsight

Paracetamol vs Tapentadol

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

Paracetamol was dispensed 102.3× as often as Tapentadol in March 2026 — 1,327,611 items versus 12,982 in England.

1,327,611items

Paracetamol · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

12,982items

Tapentadol · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Paracetamol versus Tapentadol: national items dispensed by month

▬ Paracetamol   ·   ╌ Tapentadol

Tapentadol 1,327,611

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026

Paracetamol versus Tapentadol, March 2026
Measure Paracetamol Tapentadol
Items, March 2026 1,327,611 12,982
Items, last 12 months 15,763,745 156,224
Net ingredient cost, March 2026 £5,728,363 £523,865

See the full profile for Paracetamol or Tapentadol.