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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

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

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

Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol) was dispensed 609,837.0× as often as Paracetamol and phenylephrine hydrochloride in March 2026 — 1,219,674 items versus 2 in England.

2items

Paracetamol and phenylephrine hydrochloride · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

1,219,674items

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

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

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

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

0 669k 1.3m Jan 2021 Dec 2021 Dec 2022 Aug 2023 Mar 2024 Nov 2024 Mar 2026 Co-codamol (Code… 2 Jan 2021: 1 Feb 2021: 1 Mar 2021: 1 May 2021: 1 Jun 2021: 1 Oct 2021: 1 Dec 2021: 2 Mar 2022: 2 Apr 2022: 1 Jul 2022: 3 Aug 2022: 1 Nov 2022: 1 Dec 2022: 5 Feb 2023: 2 Mar 2023: 2 May 2023: 1 Jun 2023: 1 Jul 2023: 2 Aug 2023: 1 Sep 2023: 2 Oct 2023: 1 Nov 2023: 3 Jan 2024: 3 Feb 2024: 2 Mar 2024: 3 May 2024: 2 Jun 2024: 1 Jul 2024: 2 Aug 2024: 3 Oct 2024: 1 Nov 2024: 1 Jan 2025: 3 Mar 2025: 1 May 2025: 1 Jun 2025: 1 Aug 2025: 1 Sep 2025: 2 Oct 2025: 4 Dec 2025: 3 Jan 2026: 3 Feb 2026: 2 Mar 2026: 2

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026

Paracetamol and phenylephrine hydrochloride versus Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol), March 2026
Measure Paracetamol and phenylephrine hydrochloride Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol)
Items, March 2026 2 1,219,674
Items, last 12 months 24 14,886,389
Net ingredient cost, March 2026 £6 £7,189,629

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