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PharmaInsight

Phenobarbital vs Sodium valproate

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

Sodium valproate was dispensed 15.4× as often as Phenobarbital in March 2026 — 171,182 items versus 11,099 in England.

11,099items

Phenobarbital · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

171,182items

Sodium valproate · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Phenobarbital versus Sodium valproate: national items dispensed by month

▬ Phenobarbital   ·   ╌ Sodium valproate

Sodium valproate 11,099

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026

Phenobarbital versus Sodium valproate, March 2026
Measure Phenobarbital Sodium valproate
Items, March 2026 11,099 171,182
Items, last 12 months 135,209 2,078,747
Net ingredient cost, March 2026 £99,041 £2,714,773

See the full profile for Phenobarbital or Sodium valproate.