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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Paracetamol combined preparations vs Tramadol hydrochloride

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

Tramadol hydrochloride was dispensed 1,067.4× as often as Paracetamol combined preparations in May 2026 — 398,142 items versus 373 in England.

373items

Paracetamol combined preparations · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

398,142items

Tramadol hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Paracetamol combined preparations versus Tramadol hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Paracetamol combined preparations   ·   ╌ Tramadol hydrochloride

0 253k 506k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Tramadol hydroch… 373 Jan 2021: 412 Feb 2021: 407 Mar 2021: 440 Apr 2021: 455 May 2021: 415 Jun 2021: 448 Jul 2021: 439 Aug 2021: 416 Sep 2021: 441 Oct 2021: 424 Nov 2021: 431 Dec 2021: 445 Jan 2022: 420 Feb 2022: 362 Mar 2022: 445 Apr 2022: 409 May 2022: 366 Jun 2022: 375 Jul 2022: 356 Aug 2022: 429 Sep 2022: 400 Oct 2022: 400 Nov 2022: 415 Dec 2022: 403 Jan 2023: 371 Feb 2023: 349 Mar 2023: 403 Apr 2023: 397 May 2023: 409 Jun 2023: 378 Jul 2023: 380 Aug 2023: 433 Sep 2023: 428 Oct 2023: 443 Nov 2023: 436 Dec 2023: 408 Jan 2024: 426 Feb 2024: 417 Mar 2024: 439 Apr 2024: 421 May 2024: 397 Jun 2024: 399 Jul 2024: 436 Aug 2024: 396 Sep 2024: 390 Oct 2024: 407 Nov 2024: 398 Dec 2024: 405 Jan 2025: 380 Feb 2025: 358 Mar 2025: 371 Apr 2025: 409 May 2025: 393 Jun 2025: 382 Jul 2025: 431 Aug 2025: 382 Sep 2025: 401 Oct 2025: 409 Nov 2025: 376 Dec 2025: 425 Jan 2026: 396 Feb 2026: 368 Mar 2026: 392 Apr 2026: 411 May 2026: 373

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Paracetamol combined preparations versus Tramadol hydrochloride, May 2026
Measure Paracetamol combined preparations Tramadol hydrochloride
Items, May 2026 373 398,142
Items, last 12 months 4,746 4,985,868
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £7,118 £1,423,810

See the full profile for Paracetamol combined preparations or Tramadol hydrochloride.