Skip to content
Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Codeine phosphate

Respiratory System Cough preparations BNF 0309010C0
Data updated May 2026 Download CSV

Codeine phosphate was ranked 577th of 1,792 medicines by items in May 2026, with 5,787 items, up 2.9% on a year earlier.

5,787items +2.9%

Dispensed in May 2026

74,079items

Rolling 12 months

£165,775

Net ingredient cost · May 2026

Figure 1. Codeine phosphate: national items dispensed by month

0 6k 12k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 5,787 Jan 2021: 7k Feb 2021: 6k Mar 2021: 6k Apr 2021: 6k May 2021: 6k Jun 2021: 6k Jul 2021: 6k Aug 2021: 6k Sep 2021: 7k Oct 2021: 8k Nov 2021: 9k Dec 2021: 9k Jan 2022: 9k Feb 2022: 7k Mar 2022: 8k Apr 2022: 8k May 2022: 8k Jun 2022: 7k Jul 2022: 7k Aug 2022: 7k Sep 2022: 7k Oct 2022: 9k Nov 2022: 10k Dec 2022: 12k Jan 2023: 11k Feb 2023: 9k Mar 2023: 9k Apr 2023: 7k May 2023: 7k Jun 2023: 7k Jul 2023: 7k Aug 2023: 7k Sep 2023: 7k Oct 2023: 8k Nov 2023: 9k Dec 2023: 10k Jan 2024: 11k Feb 2024: 9k Mar 2024: 9k Apr 2024: 9k May 2024: 8k Jun 2024: 7k Jul 2024: 7k Aug 2024: 6k Sep 2024: 6k Oct 2024: 7k Nov 2024: 8k Dec 2024: 9k Jan 2025: 9k Feb 2025: 7k Mar 2025: 7k Apr 2025: 6k May 2025: 6k Jun 2025: 5k Jul 2025: 5k Aug 2025: 5k Sep 2025: 6k Oct 2025: 7k Nov 2025: 6k Dec 2025: 7k Jan 2026: 7k Feb 2026: 6k Mar 2026: 7k Apr 2026: 6k May 2026: 6k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Download CSV
Embed this chart

At a glance

  • Therapeutic class Cough preparations
  • Presentations 3 shown
  • Average cost / item £28.65
  • Year on year Up 2.9% 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 Codeine phosphate this month.

Presentations of Codeine phosphate, May 2026
Presentation BNF code Items Net ingredient cost
Codeine 15mg/5ml linctus sugar free 0309010C0AAADAD 3,849 £105,975
Codeine 15mg/5ml linctus 0309010C0AAAAAA 1,933 £59,794
Galcodine 15mg/5ml linctus 0309010C0BBAAAD 5 £6

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

Where Codeine phosphate is dispensed

The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Codeine phosphate volumes.

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

Compare Codeine phosphate with

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