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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Azithromycin

Infections Antibacterial drugs BNF 0501050A0
Data updated May 2026 Download CSV

Azithromycin was ranked 204th of 1,792 medicines by items in May 2026, with 74,740 items, little changed on a year earlier.

74,740items +0.5%

Dispensed in May 2026

933,287items

Rolling 12 months

£344,070

Net ingredient cost · May 2026

Figure 1. Azithromycin: national items dispensed by month

0 44k 88k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 Jun 2024 Apr 2025 May 2026 74,740 Jan 2021: 67k Feb 2021: 61k Mar 2021: 67k Apr 2021: 63k May 2021: 60k Jun 2021: 63k Jul 2021: 63k Aug 2021: 60k Sep 2021: 64k Oct 2021: 65k Nov 2021: 68k Dec 2021: 72k Jan 2022: 66k Feb 2022: 62k Mar 2022: 69k Apr 2022: 64k May 2022: 65k Jun 2022: 63k Jul 2022: 63k Aug 2022: 63k Sep 2022: 65k Oct 2022: 67k Nov 2022: 70k Dec 2022: 88k Jan 2023: 75k Feb 2023: 65k Mar 2023: 73k Apr 2023: 63k May 2023: 67k Jun 2023: 68k Jul 2023: 65k Aug 2023: 66k Oct 2023: 71k Nov 2023: 73k Dec 2023: 75k Jan 2024: 77k Feb 2024: 73k Mar 2024: 75k Apr 2024: 75k May 2024: 76k Jun 2024: 70k Jul 2024: 75k Aug 2024: 70k Sep 2024: 71k Oct 2024: 79k Nov 2024: 77k Dec 2024: 82k Jan 2025: 82k Feb 2025: 73k Mar 2025: 76k Apr 2025: 74k May 2025: 74k Jun 2025: 72k Jul 2025: 75k Aug 2025: 69k Sep 2025: 76k Oct 2025: 82k Nov 2025: 77k Dec 2025: 87k Jan 2026: 83k Feb 2026: 76k Mar 2026: 83k Apr 2026: 78k May 2026: 75k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

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At a glance

  • Therapeutic class Antibacterial drugs
  • Presentations 7 shown
  • Average cost / item £4.60
  • Year on year Little changed on a year earlier
What this is
Net ingredient cost is the list price before discounts and dispensing fees, not what the NHS finally pays.

Top presentations, May 2026

The individual products dispensed under Azithromycin this month.

Presentations of Azithromycin, May 2026
Presentation BNF code Items Net ingredient cost
Azithromycin 250mg tablets 0501050A0AAAGAG 40,922 £95,014
Azithromycin 500mg tablets 0501050A0AAADAD 13,259 £36,083
Azithromycin 250mg capsules 0501050A0AAAAAA 12,161 £35,940
Azithromycin 200mg/5ml oral suspension 0501050A0AAABAB 8,240 £172,629
Zithromax 200mg/5ml oral suspension 0501050A0BBABAB 95 £2,748
Zithromax 250mg capsules 0501050A0BBAAAA 49 £1,348
Azithromycin 200mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free 0501050A0AAAHAH 14 £307

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis · to May 2026 OGL v3.0

Where Azithromycin is dispensed

The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Azithromycin volumes.

Regional volumes from NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis; practice volumes from NHS dispensing data.

Compare Azithromycin with

Other medicines in the same BNF section, by prescribing volume.