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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Paracetamol and ibuprofen vs Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol)

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

Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol) was dispensed 51,331.9× as often as Paracetamol and ibuprofen in May 2026 — 1,180,634 items versus 23 in England.

23items

Paracetamol and ibuprofen · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

1,180,634items

Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol) · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Paracetamol and ibuprofen versus Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol): national items dispensed by month

▬ Paracetamol and ibuprofen   ·   ╌ Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol)

0 669k 1.3m Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Co-codamol (Code… 23 Jan 2021: 10 Feb 2021: 13 Mar 2021: 8 Apr 2021: 13 May 2021: 14 Jun 2021: 8 Jul 2021: 11 Aug 2021: 11 Sep 2021: 12 Oct 2021: 12 Nov 2021: 12 Dec 2021: 16 Jan 2022: 7 Feb 2022: 11 Mar 2022: 8 Apr 2022: 13 May 2022: 12 Jun 2022: 10 Jul 2022: 13 Aug 2022: 15 Sep 2022: 18 Oct 2022: 15 Nov 2022: 11 Dec 2022: 14 Jan 2023: 17 Feb 2023: 14 Mar 2023: 16 Apr 2023: 11 May 2023: 6 Jun 2023: 13 Jul 2023: 12 Aug 2023: 12 Sep 2023: 13 Oct 2023: 17 Nov 2023: 14 Dec 2023: 21 Jan 2024: 14 Feb 2024: 21 Mar 2024: 13 Apr 2024: 17 May 2024: 20 Jun 2024: 19 Jul 2024: 23 Aug 2024: 16 Sep 2024: 19 Oct 2024: 22 Nov 2024: 19 Dec 2024: 16 Jan 2025: 19 Feb 2025: 16 Mar 2025: 18 Apr 2025: 21 May 2025: 21 Jun 2025: 19 Jul 2025: 27 Aug 2025: 19 Sep 2025: 25 Oct 2025: 27 Nov 2025: 18 Dec 2025: 24 Jan 2026: 20 Feb 2026: 22 Mar 2026: 29 Apr 2026: 29 May 2026: 23

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Paracetamol and ibuprofen versus Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol), May 2026
Measure Paracetamol and ibuprofen Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol)
Items, May 2026 23 1,180,634
Items, last 12 months 282 14,786,718
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £363 £6,925,712

See the full profile for Paracetamol and ibuprofen or Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol).