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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Sodium oxybate vs Zopiclone

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

Zopiclone was dispensed 3,009.1× as often as Sodium oxybate in May 2026 — 312,949 items versus 104 in England.

104items

Sodium oxybate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

312,949items

Zopiclone · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Sodium oxybate versus Zopiclone: national items dispensed by month

▬ Sodium oxybate   ·   ╌ Zopiclone

0 220k 441k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Zopiclone 104 Jan 2021: 150 Feb 2021: 153 Mar 2021: 162 Apr 2021: 178 May 2021: 157 Jun 2021: 179 Jul 2021: 147 Aug 2021: 166 Sep 2021: 171 Oct 2021: 173 Nov 2021: 170 Dec 2021: 169 Jan 2022: 179 Feb 2022: 146 Mar 2022: 179 Apr 2022: 166 May 2022: 169 Jun 2022: 160 Jul 2022: 168 Aug 2022: 174 Sep 2022: 180 Oct 2022: 163 Nov 2022: 165 Dec 2022: 155 Jan 2023: 158 Feb 2023: 157 Mar 2023: 165 Apr 2023: 148 May 2023: 173 Jun 2023: 158 Jul 2023: 180 Aug 2023: 177 Sep 2023: 171 Oct 2023: 168 Nov 2023: 155 Dec 2023: 162 Jan 2024: 171 Feb 2024: 171 Mar 2024: 177 Apr 2024: 160 May 2024: 179 Jun 2024: 169 Jul 2024: 170 Aug 2024: 174 Sep 2024: 163 Oct 2024: 168 Nov 2024: 179 Dec 2024: 173 Jan 2025: 172 Feb 2025: 148 Mar 2025: 159 Apr 2025: 149 May 2025: 156 Jun 2025: 158 Jul 2025: 156 Aug 2025: 142 Sep 2025: 144 Oct 2025: 139 Nov 2025: 135 Dec 2025: 148 Jan 2026: 139 Feb 2026: 138 Mar 2026: 149 Apr 2026: 137 May 2026: 104

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Sodium oxybate versus Zopiclone, May 2026
Measure Sodium oxybate Zopiclone
Items, May 2026 104 312,949
Items, last 12 months 1,689 4,042,460
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £96,420 £147,665

See the full profile for Sodium oxybate or Zopiclone.