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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Varenicline tartrate vs Buprenorph hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride

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

Varenicline tartrate was dispensed 1,187.1× as often as Buprenorph hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride in April 2026 — 8,310 items versus 7 in England.

8,310items

Varenicline tartrate · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

7items

Buprenorph hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Varenicline tartrate versus Buprenorph hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Varenicline tartrate   ·   ╌ Buprenorph hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride

0 11k 23k Jan 2021 Oct 2021 Jul 2022 Apr 2023 Feb 2024 Dec 2024 Apr 2026 Buprenorph hydro… 8,310 Jan 2021: 19k Feb 2021: 20k Mar 2021: 23k Apr 2021: 21k May 2021: 20k Jun 2021: 16k Jul 2021: 5k Aug 2021: 3k Sep 2021: 2k Oct 2021: 1k Nov 2021: 778 Dec 2021: 491 Jan 2022: 456 Feb 2022: 327 Mar 2022: 283 Apr 2022: 184 May 2022: 177 Jun 2022: 187 Jul 2022: 168 Aug 2022: 137 Sep 2022: 107 Oct 2022: 78 Nov 2022: 72 Dec 2022: 35 Jan 2023: 29 Feb 2023: 18 Mar 2023: 16 Apr 2023: 9 May 2023: 17 Jun 2023: 3 Jul 2023: 5 Aug 2023: 5 Sep 2023: 2 Oct 2023: 7 Nov 2023: 9 Jan 2024: 5 Feb 2024: 6 Mar 2024: 5 Apr 2024: 3 Jun 2024: 1 Jul 2024: 5 Aug 2024: 4 Sep 2024: 28 Oct 2024: 110 Nov 2024: 1k Dec 2024: 3k Jan 2025: 4k Feb 2025: 6k Mar 2025: 8k Apr 2025: 9k May 2025: 10k Jun 2025: 10k Jul 2025: 8k Aug 2025: 8k Sep 2025: 10k Oct 2025: 10k Nov 2025: 9k Dec 2025: 8k Jan 2026: 8k Feb 2026: 8k Mar 2026: 9k Apr 2026: 8k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to April 2026

Varenicline tartrate versus Buprenorph hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride, April 2026
Measure Varenicline tartrate Buprenorph hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride
Items, April 2026 8,310 7
Items, last 12 months 106,647 2,389
Net ingredient cost, April 2026 £277,407 £157

See the full profile for Varenicline tartrate or Buprenorph hydrochloride/naloxone hydrochloride.