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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

May 2023 in numbers

NHS community prescribing in England (Prescription Cost Analysis).
Data updated May 2023
100,036,292items

Dispensed in May 2023

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

£917,899,046

Net ingredient cost, May 2023

NHSBSA PCA

Most-dispensed medicines

Download full month (CSV)
Top medicines by items, May 2023
MedicineItemsNet ingredient cost
Atorvastatin 5,286,082 £9,220,135
Amlodipine 3,110,455 £3,158,952
Omeprazole 3,007,488 £12,996,728
Lansoprazole 2,867,574 £4,036,995
Levothyroxine sodium 2,852,780 £4,480,618
Ramipril 2,781,703 £4,280,754
Bisoprolol fumarate 2,389,584 £2,370,925
Colecalciferol 2,233,579 £8,978,775
Metformin hydrochloride 2,107,538 £7,240,746
Sertraline hydrochloride 1,930,247 £3,375,139
Salbutamol 1,736,152 £5,365,664
Aspirin 1,704,835 £1,643,232

Biggest risers

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

Biggest risers month on month
MedicineItemsChange
Terbinafine hydrochloride 17,807 +50.7%
Medroxyprogesterone acetate 29,551 +49.6%
Adrenaline 45,587 +44.6%
Norethisterone 34,812 +35.2%
Fluticasone propionate/azelastine hydrochloride (Nasal) 54,589 +33.3%
Acetylcysteine 13,381 +30.8%
Triamcinolone acetonide 20,361 +27.3%
Chlorhexidine gluconate 15,432 +25.4%

Biggest fallers

Largest month-on-month fall in items.

Biggest fallers month on month
MedicineItemsChange
Clobetasone butyrate 80,975 −4.0%
Influenza 117,061 −3.9%
Progesterone 161,701 −2.7%
Chloramphenicol 104,941 −2.7%
Fusidic acid 10,383 −1.7%
Doxycycline hyclate 311,105 −0.9%
Alginic acid compound preparations 332,144 −0.3%
Erythromycin ethylsuccinate 15,538 +0.3%