March 2026 in numbers
NHS community prescribing in England (Prescription Cost Analysis).
110,288,884items
Dispensed in March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
£984,671,890
Net ingredient cost, March 2026
NHSBSA PCA
Most-dispensed medicines
Download full month (CSV)| Medicine | Items | Net ingredient cost |
|---|---|---|
| Atorvastatin | 6,762,597 | £6,116,097 |
| Amlodipine | 3,557,608 | £3,050,719 |
| Lansoprazole | 3,231,439 | £3,446,295 |
| Ramipril | 3,129,698 | £3,565,334 |
| Levothyroxine sodium | 2,971,450 | £3,511,028 |
| Omeprazole | 2,965,687 | £8,147,871 |
| Bisoprolol fumarate | 2,678,545 | £3,116,025 |
| Colecalciferol | 2,530,117 | £10,896,850 |
| Metformin hydrochloride | 2,331,945 | £5,257,359 |
| Sertraline hydrochloride | 2,236,611 | £3,964,693 |
| Aspirin | 1,717,444 | £4,780,201 |
| Amitriptyline hydrochloride | 1,420,123 | £1,545,559 |
Biggest risers
Largest month-on-month rise in items (medicines above 10,000 items).
| Medicine | Items | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium cromoglicate | 52,929 | +45.2% |
| Olopatadine | 29,997 | +39.9% |
| Fluorouracil (Antimetabolites) | 19,703 | +28.9% |
| Vibegron | 21,936 | +27.6% |
| Fexofenadine hydrochloride | 621,716 | +23.8% |
| Oral rehydration salts | 17,040 | +22.0% |
| Desloratadine | 12,795 | +21.6% |
| Fluticasone propionate/azelastine hydrochloride (Nasal) | 85,118 | +20.8% |
Biggest fallers
Largest month-on-month fall in items.
| Medicine | Items | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Influenza | 149,368 | −33.8% |
| Diphtheria | 29,923 | −12.5% |
| Typhoid | 52,707 | −9.4% |
| Hepatitis A | 47,547 | −6.8% |
| Hypromellose | 28,286 | −5.9% |
| Phenazone/lidocaine | 17,887 | −4.5% |
| Levomepromazine hydrochloride | 11,254 | −2.9% |
| Medroxyprogesterone acetate | 57,953 | −1.2% |