Medicines
Central Nervous System
Analgesics
Paracetamol

Paracetamol

Central Nervous System Analgesics BNF 0407010H0

Data updated April 2026 Download CSV

Paracetamol was the 13th most-dispensed medicine in England in April 2026, with 1,314,479 items, up 1.0% on a year earlier.

1,314,479items +1%

Dispensed in April 2026

14,443,804items

Rolling 12 months

£5,693,331

Net ingredient cost · April 2026

Figure 1. Paracetamol: national items dispensed by month

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to April 2026

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<iframe src="https://pharmainsight.co.uk/embed/medicines/paracetamol-0407010h0" width="100%" height="280" style="border:0" loading="lazy" title="Paracetamol: NHS prescribing in England — PharmaInsight"></iframe>

At a glance

Therapeutic class Analgesics
Presentations 15 shown
Average cost / item £4.33
Year on year Up 1.0% 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 Paracetamol this month.

Presentations of Paracetamol, April 2026
Presentation	BNF code	Items	Net ingredient cost
Paracetamol 500mg tablets	0407010H0AAAMAM	1,146,047	£2,936,285
Paracetamol 500mg capsules	0407010H0AAAAAA	55,556	£192,563
Paracetamol 250mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	0407010H0AABGBG	45,916	£781,904
Paracetamol 500mg soluble tablets	0407010H0AAAQAQ	20,755	£636,754
Paracetamol 250mg/5ml oral suspension	0407010H0AAACAC	19,292	£652,602
Paracetamol 500mg effervescent tablets	0407010H0AADSDS	15,678	£116,564
Paracetamol 120mg/5ml oral suspension paediatric sugar free	0407010H0AAAWAW	4,497	£16,611
Paracetamol 500mg/5ml oral solution sugar free	0407010H0AADPDP	1,331	£59,300
Paracetamol 120mg/5ml oral suspension paediatric	0407010H0AAAIAI	1,052	£6,181
Paracetamol 125mg suppositories	0407010H0AACMCM	537	£11,702
Paracetamol 500mg/5ml oral suspension sugar free	0407010H0AAA5A5	525	£152,503
Paracetamol 120mg/5ml oral solution paediatric sugar free	0407010H0AAA7A7	512	£2,741
Paracetamol 250mg suppositories	0407010H0AACBCB	449	£22,177
Paracetamol 500mg suppositories	0407010H0AABUBU	380	£42,562
Paracetamol 1g tablets	0407010H0AADLDL	359	£2,107

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

Where Paracetamol is dispensed

The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Paracetamol volumes.

Top regions

NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board 125,758
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board 98,951
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board 72,472
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board 67,520
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board 50,033

Top dispensing practices

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

In NHS hospitals

Paracetamol is also used in NHS secondary care. See the indicative hospital cost, monthly trend and the trusts using it most on the hospital medicines page.

Compare Paracetamol with

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

Paracetamol vs Co-codamol (Codeine phosphate/paracetamol) Paracetamol vs Codeine phosphate Paracetamol vs Morphine sulfate Paracetamol vs Tramadol hydrochloride Paracetamol vs Buprenorphine