Phenoxymethylpenicillin (Penicillin V) vs Cefalexin

National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)

Data updated March 2026

Phenoxymethylpenicillin (Penicillin V) was dispensed 4.0× as often as Cefalexin in March 2026 — 316,146 items versus 79,173 in England.

316,146items

Phenoxymethylpenicillin (Penicillin V) · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

79,173items

Cefalexin · March 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Phenoxymethylpenicillin (Penicillin V) versus Cefalexin: national items dispensed by month

▬ Phenoxymethylpenicillin (Penicillin V) · ╌ Cefalexin

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026

Phenoxymethylpenicillin (Penicillin V) versus Cefalexin, March 2026
Measure	Phenoxymethylpenicillin (Penicillin V)	Cefalexin
Items, March 2026	316,146	79,173
Items, last 12 months	2,981,784	927,041
Net ingredient cost, March 2026	£659,506	£229,774