March 2021 in numbers
NHS community prescribing in England (Prescription Cost Analysis).
96,048,645items
Dispensed in March 2021
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
£834,802,664
Net ingredient cost, March 2021
NHSBSA PCA
Most-dispensed medicines
Download full month (CSV)| Medicine | Items | Net ingredient cost |
|---|---|---|
| Atorvastatin | 4,448,293 | £7,748,505 |
| Omeprazole | 3,054,780 | £8,168,416 |
| Levothyroxine sodium | 2,863,255 | £6,191,958 |
| Amlodipine | 2,806,371 | £3,710,481 |
| Lansoprazole | 2,659,737 | £4,501,008 |
| Ramipril | 2,598,941 | £3,954,004 |
| Bisoprolol fumarate | 2,252,836 | £2,585,492 |
| Colecalciferol | 2,180,086 | £8,424,699 |
| Metformin hydrochloride | 2,003,908 | £10,232,136 |
| Aspirin | 1,818,744 | £2,137,955 |
| Sertraline hydrochloride | 1,735,443 | £13,455,923 |
| Salbutamol | 1,713,175 | £4,438,403 |
Biggest risers
Largest month-on-month rise in items (medicines above 10,000 items).
| Medicine | Items | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Methylprednisolone acetate | 29,009 | +47.1% |
| Pneumococcal | 25,518 | +45.5% |
| Adrenaline | 31,377 | +44.6% |
| Sodium cromoglicate | 59,418 | +42.1% |
| Olopatadine | 16,467 | +32.4% |
| Fexofenadine hydrochloride | 359,732 | +27.4% |
| Lidocaine hydrochloride | 85,105 | +25.6% |
| Metronidazole | 25,056 | +25.4% |
Biggest fallers
Largest month-on-month fall in items.
| Medicine | Items | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Influenza | 194,261 | −25.6% |
| Aminophylline hydrate | 14,819 | −18.5% |
| Levomepromazine hydrochloride | 10,096 | −6.3% |
| Midazolam hydrochloride | 21,056 | −5.6% |
| Water for injection | 17,611 | −0.9% |
| Adhesive Discs/Rings/Pads/Plasters | 20,412 | +3.1% |
| Anal Irrigation System | 12,900 | +3.7% |
| Oral rehydration salts | 12,334 | +4.6% |