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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Capsaicin

Musculoskeletal and Joint Diseases Drugs for soft-tissue disorders and topical pain relief BNF 1003020AA
Data updated April 2026 Download CSV

Capsaicin was ranked 588th of 1,792 medicines by items in April 2026, with 5,888 items, up 123.1% on a year earlier.

5,888items +123.1%

Dispensed in April 2026

33,975items

Rolling 12 months

£202,325

Net ingredient cost · April 2026

Figure 1. Capsaicin: national items dispensed by month

0 14k 29k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 Apr 2026 5,888 Jan 2021: 21k Feb 2021: 20k Mar 2021: 24k Apr 2021: 23k May 2021: 23k Jun 2021: 25k Jul 2021: 25k Aug 2021: 24k Sep 2021: 26k Oct 2021: 25k Nov 2021: 26k Dec 2021: 26k Jan 2022: 23k Feb 2022: 20k Mar 2022: 19k Apr 2022: 26k May 2022: 29k Jun 2022: 24k Jul 2022: 19k Aug 2022: 15k Sep 2022: 15k Oct 2022: 19k Nov 2022: 20k Dec 2022: 18k Jan 2023: 16k Feb 2023: 12k Mar 2023: 10k Apr 2023: 7k May 2023: 7k Jun 2023: 7k Jul 2023: 6k Aug 2023: 5k Sep 2023: 5k Oct 2023: 5k Nov 2023: 5k Dec 2023: 5k Jan 2024: 5k Feb 2024: 4k Mar 2024: 4k Apr 2024: 4k May 2024: 4k Jun 2024: 3k Jul 2024: 3k Aug 2024: 3k Sep 2024: 3k Oct 2024: 3k Nov 2024: 3k Dec 2024: 3k Jan 2025: 3k Feb 2025: 3k Mar 2025: 3k Apr 2025: 3k May 2025: 3k Jun 2025: 3k Jul 2025: 3k Aug 2025: 3k Sep 2025: 2k Oct 2025: 2k Nov 2025: 2k Dec 2025: 2k Jan 2026: 3k Feb 2026: 3k Mar 2026: 5k Apr 2026: 6k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to April 2026

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At a glance

  • Therapeutic class Drugs for soft-tissue disorders and topical pain relief
  • Presentations 5 shown
  • Average cost / item £34.36
  • Year on year Up 123.1% 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, April 2026

The individual products dispensed under Capsaicin this month.

Presentations of Capsaicin, April 2026
Presentation BNF code Items Net ingredient cost
Zacin 0.025% cream 1003020AABDAAAB 2,839 £57,593
Axsain 0.075% cream 1003020AABCAAAA 2,518 £43,667
Capsaicin 0.025% cream 1003020AAAAABAB 279 £58,757
Capsaicin 0.075% cream 1003020AAAAAAAA 248 £39,579
Qutenza 179mg cutaneous patches 1003020AABEAAAD 4 £2,730

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

Where Capsaicin is dispensed

The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Capsaicin volumes.

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

Compare Capsaicin with

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