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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

October 2021 in numbers

NHS community prescribing in England (Prescription Cost Analysis).
Data updated October 2021
96,216,862items

Dispensed in October 2021

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

£814,543,433

Net ingredient cost, October 2021

NHSBSA PCA

Most-dispensed medicines

Download full month (CSV)
Top medicines by items, October 2021
MedicineItemsNet ingredient cost
Influenza 4,488,639 £48,269,065
Atorvastatin 4,324,082 £6,216,977
Omeprazole 2,856,845 £7,317,261
Levothyroxine sodium 2,685,097 £4,935,242
Amlodipine 2,662,696 £3,094,543
Lansoprazole 2,547,688 £3,824,761
Ramipril 2,464,839 £3,731,497
Bisoprolol fumarate 2,161,122 £2,205,779
Colecalciferol 2,024,594 £7,371,760
Metformin hydrochloride 1,910,390 £7,254,944
Salbutamol 1,815,452 £4,535,371
Aspirin 1,682,688 £1,902,706

Biggest risers

Largest month-on-month rise in items (medicines above 10,000 items).

Biggest risers month on month
MedicineItemsChange
Influenza 4,488,639 +132.3%
Erythromycin ethylsuccinate 18,012 +37.4%
Amoxicillin 925,263 +28.4%
Chloramphenicol 83,860 +23.5%
Doxycycline hyclate 308,120 +17.9%
Clarithromycin 172,301 +14.4%
Heparinoid 14,788 +13.2%
Phenoxymethylpenicillin (Penicillin V) 195,195 +10.7%

Biggest fallers

Largest month-on-month fall in items.

Biggest fallers month on month
MedicineItemsChange
Adrenaline 30,234 −31.5%
Sodium cromoglicate 44,080 −17.4%
Adapalene 13,355 −13.8%
Olopatadine 14,373 −13.5%
Tracheostomy & Laryngectomy Appliances 16,040 −12.7%
Norethisterone 12,555 −12.3%
Fexofenadine hydrochloride 329,854 −12.3%
Loratadine 123,165 −11.7%