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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Hydrocortisone

Skin Topical corticosteroids BNF 1304000V0
Data updated May 2026 Download CSV

Hydrocortisone was ranked 90th of 1,792 medicines by items in May 2026, with 272,329 items, down 5.2% on a year earlier.

272,329items -5.2%

Dispensed in May 2026

3,345,890items

Rolling 12 months

£1,646,355

Net ingredient cost · May 2026

Figure 1. Hydrocortisone: national items dispensed by month

0 179k 358k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Aug 2023 Jun 2024 Apr 2025 May 2026 272,329 Jan 2021: 313k Feb 2021: 309k Mar 2021: 358k Apr 2021: 349k May 2021: 297k Jun 2021: 322k Jul 2021: 304k Aug 2021: 276k Sep 2021: 299k Oct 2021: 286k Nov 2021: 309k Dec 2021: 293k Jan 2022: 318k Feb 2022: 306k Mar 2022: 352k Apr 2022: 305k May 2022: 320k Jun 2022: 311k Jul 2022: 301k Aug 2022: 292k Sep 2022: 282k Oct 2022: 284k Nov 2022: 311k Dec 2022: 292k Feb 2023: 308k Mar 2023: 349k Apr 2023: 302k May 2023: 336k Jun 2023: 349k Jul 2023: 317k Aug 2023: 314k Sep 2023: 309k Oct 2023: 311k Nov 2023: 321k Dec 2023: 290k Jan 2024: 353k Feb 2024: 325k Mar 2024: 333k Apr 2024: 350k May 2024: 338k Jun 2024: 314k Jul 2024: 314k Aug 2024: 289k Sep 2024: 273k Oct 2024: 294k Nov 2024: 289k Dec 2024: 272k Jan 2025: 314k Feb 2025: 274k Mar 2025: 296k Apr 2025: 280k May 2025: 287k Jun 2025: 285k Jul 2025: 290k Aug 2025: 255k Sep 2025: 269k Oct 2025: 278k Nov 2025: 266k Dec 2025: 267k Jan 2026: 293k Feb 2026: 269k Mar 2026: 306k Apr 2026: 295k May 2026: 272k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

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At a glance

  • Therapeutic class Topical corticosteroids
  • Presentations 15 shown
  • Average cost / item £6.05
  • Year on year Down 5.2% 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 Hydrocortisone this month.

Presentations of Hydrocortisone, May 2026
Presentation BNF code Items Net ingredient cost
Hydrocortisone 1% cream 1304000V0AAADAD 109,623 £347,681
Daktacort Hydrocortisone cream 1304000V0CRAACH 50,948 £457,295
Timodine cream 1304000V0CBABCB 31,735 £124,859
Canesten HC cream 1304000V0CHABCI 28,335 £78,805
Hydrocortisone 1% ointment 1304000V0AABCBC 27,577 £98,025
Canesten Hydrocortisone cream 1304000V0CHACCI 13,285 £83,589
Nystaform HC cream 1304000V0CFABCF 3,927 £45,228
Hydrocortisone 0.5% cream 1304000V0AAACAC 1,896 £170,113
Hydrocortisone 0.5% ointment 1304000V0AABBBB 903 £131,547
Eurax Hc cream 1304000V0BTABAJ 888 £6,261
Nystatin 100,000units/g/Chlorhex Hcl 1% / Hydrocort 0.5% crm 1304000V0AACFCF 740 £7,960
Daktacort 2%/1% cream 1304000V0CGABCH 721 £2,067
Terra-Cortril ointment (Intrapharm) 1304000V0CCAFCM 413 £2,370
Nystaform HC ointment 1304000V0CFACCN 410 £4,617
Nystatin 100,000u/g / Chlorhex acetate 1%/ Hydrocort 1% oint 1304000V0AACNCN 363 £4,019

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

Where Hydrocortisone is dispensed

The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Hydrocortisone volumes.

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

Compare Hydrocortisone with

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