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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Zinc oxide vs Prednisolone

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

Prednisolone was dispensed 4.3× as often as Zinc oxide in May 2026 — 45,475 items versus 10,479 in England.

10,479items

Zinc oxide · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

45,475items

Prednisolone · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Zinc oxide versus Prednisolone: national items dispensed by month

▬ Zinc oxide   ·   ╌ Prednisolone

0 25k 50k Jan 2021 Dec 2021 Oct 2022 Aug 2023 Jun 2024 Apr 2025 May 2026 Prednisolone 10,479 Jan 2021: 13k Feb 2021: 13k Mar 2021: 14k Apr 2021: 13k May 2021: 12k Jun 2021: 12k Jul 2021: 12k Aug 2021: 12k Sep 2021: 12k Nov 2021: 12k Dec 2021: 12k Jan 2022: 12k Feb 2022: 12k Mar 2022: 13k Apr 2022: 11k May 2022: 12k Jun 2022: 12k Jul 2022: 12k Aug 2022: 12k Sep 2022: 12k Oct 2022: 12k Nov 2022: 12k Dec 2022: 11k Jan 2023: 12k Feb 2023: 11k Mar 2023: 13k Apr 2023: 11k May 2023: 12k Jun 2023: 12k Jul 2023: 11k Aug 2023: 12k Sep 2023: 12k Oct 2023: 12k Nov 2023: 12k Dec 2023: 12k Jan 2024: 12k Feb 2024: 12k Mar 2024: 12k Apr 2024: 12k May 2024: 12k Jun 2024: 11k Jul 2024: 12k Aug 2024: 12k Sep 2024: 12k Oct 2024: 12k Nov 2024: 12k Dec 2024: 11k Jan 2025: 13k Feb 2025: 11k Mar 2025: 12k Apr 2025: 11k May 2025: 12k Jun 2025: 11k Jul 2025: 12k Aug 2025: 11k Sep 2025: 12k Oct 2025: 12k Nov 2025: 11k Dec 2025: 11k Jan 2026: 12k Feb 2026: 11k Mar 2026: 11k Apr 2026: 11k May 2026: 10k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Zinc oxide versus Prednisolone, May 2026
Measure Zinc oxide Prednisolone
Items, May 2026 10,479 45,475
Items, last 12 months 134,498 564,483
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £41,116 £127,554

See the full profile for Zinc oxide or Prednisolone.