Ibuprofen
Musculoskeletal and Joint Diseases
Drugs for soft-tissue disorders and topical pain relief
BNF 1003020P0
Data updated April 2026
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Ibuprofen was ranked 78th of 1,792 medicines by items in April 2026, with 330,156 items, up 4.2% on a year earlier.
330,156items
+4.2%
Dispensed in April 2026
3,574,764items
Rolling 12 months
£1,428,117
Net ingredient cost · April 2026
Figure 1. Ibuprofen: national items dispensed by month
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 15 shown
- Average cost / item £4.33
- Year on year Up 4.2% 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, April 2026
The individual products dispensed under Ibuprofen this month.
| Presentation | BNF code | Items | Net ingredient cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibuprofen 10% gel | 1003020P0AAAIAI | 170,891 | £1,094,647 |
| Ibuprofen 5% gel | 1003020P0AAACAC | 95,876 | £192,472 |
| Fenbid 5% gel | 1003020P0BGAAAC | 56,828 | £91,533 |
| Ibugel Forte 10% gel | 1003020P0BDABAI | 1,414 | £9,739 |
| Ibuspray 5% spray | 1003020P0BFAAAD | 1,298 | £10,240 |
| Deep Relief gel | 1003020P0BEAAAH | 1,145 | £9,692 |
| Phorpain Maximum Strength 10% gel | 1003020P0BMAAAI | 864 | £6,388 |
| Fenbid Forte 10% gel | 1003020P0BGABAI | 786 | £4,552 |
| Ibugel 5% gel | 1003020P0BDAAAC | 354 | £1,997 |
| Ibuleve Maximum Strength 10% gel | 1003020P0BCAFAI | 249 | £2,119 |
| Ibuleve 5% gel | 1003020P0BCAAAC | 116 | £828 |
| Phorpain 5% gel | 1003020P0BSAAAC | 113 | £308 |
| Ibuleve Pain Relief 5% Spray | 1003020P0BCAJAD | 111 | £590 |
| Nurofen Joint & Muscular Pain Relief 200mg plasters | 1003020P0BLAEAK | 83 | £2,871 |
| Mentholatum Ibuprofen 5% gel | 1003020P0BNAAAC | 18 | £95 |
Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis · to April 2026 OGL v3.0
Where Ibuprofen is dispensed
The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Ibuprofen volumes.
Top regions
Top dispensing practices
- Holderness Health 9,335
- Modality Partnership (awc) 6,095
- The Ridings Medical Group 4,689
- Lancaster Medical Practice 4,283
- Vida Healthcare 4,028
- The Park Surgery 3,632
Regional volumes from NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis; practice volumes from NHS dispensing data.
Compare Ibuprofen with
Other medicines in the same BNF section, by prescribing volume.