Ibuprofen
National NHS prescribing (Prescription Cost Analysis) · Drugs for soft-tissue disorders and topical pain relief
Ibuprofen was ranked 80th of 1,794 medicines by items in March 2026, with 331,436 items, up 5.1% on a year earlier.
331,436items
Dispensed in March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
£1,427,391
Net ingredient cost · March 2026
NHSBSA PCA
3,893,683items
Dispensed in the last 12 months
NHSBSA PCA
Figure 1. Ibuprofen: national items dispensed by month
Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026
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Top presentations, March 2026
The individual products dispensed under Ibuprofen, by items this month.
| Presentation | Items | Net ingredient cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ibuprofen 10% gel | 171,270 | £1,097,762 |
| Ibuprofen 5% gel | 96,111 | £184,983 |
| Fenbid 5% gel | 57,160 | £92,270 |
| Ibugel Forte 10% gel | 1,460 | £10,133 |
| Ibuspray 5% spray | 1,335 | £10,691 |
| Deep Relief gel | 1,113 | £9,272 |
| Fenbid Forte 10% gel | 1,048 | £6,640 |
| Phorpain Maximum Strength 10% gel | 857 | £6,570 |
| Ibugel 5% gel | 372 | £2,216 |
| Ibuleve Maximum Strength 10% gel | 266 | £2,494 |
| Ibuleve Pain Relief 5% Spray | 125 | £628 |
| Phorpain 5% gel | 117 | £317 |
| Ibuleve 5% gel | 103 | £762 |
| Nurofen Joint & Muscular Pain Relief 200mg plasters | 61 | £2,405 |
| Mentholatum Ibuprofen 5% gel | 21 | £116 |
Compare Ibuprofen with
Other medicines in the same BNF section, by prescribing volume.