England 2015/16 to 2024/25

Published 24 July 2025

Summary

In England in 2024/25:

13.4 million hypnotics and anxiolytics items were prescribed to 1.85 million identified patients.

Barbiturates items have decreased by 97% since 2015/16.

More female patients were prescribed a hypnotics and anxiolytics item than male patients.

1. Things you should know

The drugs classified as hypnotics and anxiolytics are described in the British National Formulary (BNF) section 4.1:

  • BNF paragraph 4.1.1 - Hypnotics
  • BNF paragraph 4.1.2 - Anxiolytics
  • BNF paragraph 4.1.3 - Barbiturates
  • BNF paragraph 4.1.4 - Other hypnotics and anxiolytics
These paragraphs are held in the same structure of the BNF prior to the release of version 70.

1.1. Hypnotics and anxiolytics

Hypnotics and anxiolytics are used to treat insomnia and anxiety respectively.

Insomnia is difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep for long enough to feel refreshed in the morning, despite there being enough opportunity to sleep. Most hypnotics will sedate if given during the day. Difficulty falling asleep is the most common problem with insomnia and is also known as sleep-onset insomnia. An insomniac may also experience:

  • waking in the night
  • not feeling refreshed after sleep and not being able to function normally during the day
  • feeling irritable and tired and finding it difficult to concentrate
  • waking when they have been disturbed from sleep by pain or noise
  • waking early in the morning

Anxiolytics are used in the treatment of anxiety states and if given at night will help to induce sleep. Anxiety is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, which can be mild or severe. Everyone experiences feelings of anxiety at some point in their life and feeling anxious is sometimes perfectly normal. However, people with generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) find it hard to control their worries. Their feelings of anxiety are more constant and often affect their daily life. There are several conditions for which anxiety is the main symptom. Panic disorder, phobias and post-traumatic stress disorder can all cause severe anxiety.

You can find more information about insomnia and anxiety from the NHS website.

2. Results - Hypnotics and anxiolytics

Number of hypnotics and anxiolytics items prescribed in England 2015/16 to 2024/25

Chart
Figure 1: The total number of hypnotics and anxiolytics items continued to fall in 2024/25
Table
Table 1: The total number of hypnotics and anxiolytics items continued to fall in 2024/25
Financial year BNF paragraph name Items
2015/2016 Anxiolytics 6,773,008
2015/2016 Barbiturates 5,509
2015/2016 Hypnotics 9,171,146
2016/2017 Anxiolytics 6,759,144
2016/2017 Barbiturates 4,393
2016/2017 Hypnotics 9,008,062
2017/2018 Anxiolytics 6,571,159
2017/2018 Barbiturates 3,764
2017/2018 Hypnotics 8,679,806
2018/2019 Anxiolytics 6,410,884
2018/2019 Barbiturates 3,238
2018/2019 Hypnotics 8,446,490
2019/2020 Anxiolytics 6,329,256
2019/2020 Barbiturates 2,524
2019/2020 Hypnotics 8,309,953
2020/2021 Anxiolytics 6,060,834
2020/2021 Barbiturates 1,902
2020/2021 Hypnotics 8,247,253
2021/2022 Anxiolytics 5,912,500
2021/2022 Barbiturates 1,410
2021/2022 Hypnotics 8,127,529
2022/2023 Anxiolytics 5,806,143
2022/2023 Barbiturates 742
2022/2023 Hypnotics 7,960,261
2023/2024 Anxiolytics 5,607,023
2023/2024 Barbiturates 539
2023/2024 Hypnotics 7,910,723
2023/2024 Other hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,554
2024/2025 Anxiolytics 5,382,329
2024/2025 Barbiturates 163
2024/2025 Hypnotics 8,023,747
2024/2025 Other hypnotics and anxiolytics 40,358
2015/2016 Total 15,949,663
2016/2017 Total 15,771,599
2017/2018 Total 15,254,729
2018/2019 Total 14,860,612
2019/2020 Total 14,641,733
2020/2021 Total 14,309,989
2021/2022 Total 14,041,439
2022/2023 Total 13,767,146
2023/2024 Total 13,519,839
2024/2025 Total 13,446,597

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Hypnotics and anxiolytics

In 2024/25 there were 13.4 million hypnotic and anxiolytic items prescribed, 0.54% less than in 2023/24. Items have decreased each year since 2015/16 across the BNF paragraphs for anxiolytics and barbituates. Items prescribed from the BNF paragraph hypnotics decreased every year between 2015/16 and 2023/24. Between 2023/24 and 2024/25 there was an increase in items of 1.43%.

There were 40,400 items prescribed from BNF paragraph other hypnotics and anxiolytics in 2024/25. The number of items increased significantly from just 1,550 items in 2023/24, the first time this paragraph has been represented in the data. In both years, all of these items were for the chemical substance Daridorexant.

Barbituates items have fallen by 97% since 2015/16 to 163 items in 2024/25.

Number of identified patients prescribed one or more hypnotics and anxiolytics items in England 2015/16 to 2024/25

In figure 2, any patient who was prescribed items from more than one BNF paragraph is counted in each relevant paragraph. However, these patients have only been counted once in the hypnotics and anxiolytics total. The total number of identified patients is therefore lower than if the totals for each paragraph are added together.

Chart
Figure 2: The overall decrease in identified patients for hypnotics and anxiolytics has slowed since 2021/22
Table
Table 2: The overall decrease in identified patients for hypnotics and anxiolytics has slowed since 2021/22
Financial year BNF paragraph name Identified patients
2015/2016 Hypnotics 1,314,288
2015/2016 Anxiolytics 1,308,638
2015/2016 Barbiturates 337
2016/2017 Hypnotics 1,296,228
2016/2017 Anxiolytics 1,325,608
2016/2017 Barbiturates 289
2017/2018 Hypnotics 1,246,296
2017/2018 Anxiolytics 1,279,536
2017/2018 Barbiturates 239
2018/2019 Hypnotics 1,203,190
2018/2019 Anxiolytics 1,240,218
2018/2019 Barbiturates 195
2019/2020 Hypnotics 1,161,716
2019/2020 Anxiolytics 1,189,251
2019/2020 Barbiturates 161
2020/2021 Hypnotics 1,140,729
2020/2021 Anxiolytics 1,037,211
2020/2021 Barbiturates 121
2021/2022 Hypnotics 1,108,541
2021/2022 Anxiolytics 1,035,942
2021/2022 Barbiturates 74
2022/2023 Hypnotics 1,080,831
2022/2023 Anxiolytics 1,025,529
2022/2023 Barbiturates 44
2023/2024 Hypnotics 1,086,368
2023/2024 Anxiolytics 963,844
2023/2024 Barbiturates 29
2023/2024 Other hypnotics and anxiolytics 892
2024/2025 Hypnotics 1,089,298
2024/2025 Anxiolytics 895,199
2024/2025 Barbiturates 15
2024/2025 Other hypnotics and anxiolytics 13,428
2015/2016 Total 2,400,016
2016/2017 Total 2,399,103
2017/2018 Total 2,315,121
2018/2019 Total 2,243,280
2019/2020 Total 2,160,534
2020/2021 Total 1,993,511
2021/2022 Total 1,973,818
2022/2023 Total 1,936,934
2023/2024 Total 1,896,610
2024/2025 Total 1,846,207

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Hypnotics and anxiolytics

There were an estimated 1.85 million identified patients prescribed at least one hypnotics and anxiolytics item in 2024/25. This was 2.66% less than in 2023/24. Identified patients show a similar downward trend to items and have generally decreased over time since 2015/16. However, the number of patients prescribed at least one item from BNF paragraph hypnotics has increased each year since 2022/23 to 1.09 million identified patients in 2024/25, an increase of 0.27% from 2023/24.

There was also an increase in the number of patients prescribed items from the BNF paragraph other hypnotics and anxiolytics. The number of patients has risen to 13,430 in 2024/25 from just 892 in 2023/24, the first time this paragraph was included in the data.

Number of items and identified patients for hypnotics and anxiolytics prescribing in England, quarter 1 2015/16 to quarter 4 2024/25

Chart
Figure 3: Hypnotics and anxiolytics items fell in quarter 4 2024/25, while identified patients slightly increased
Table
Table 3: Hypnotics and anxiolytics items fell in quarter 4 2024/25, while identified patients slightly increased
Financial quarter BNF section name Identified patients Total prescribed items
2015/2016 Q1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,203,451 3,938,222
2015/2016 Q2 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,224,252 4,002,426
2015/2016 Q3 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,245,359 4,082,960
2015/2016 Q4 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,238,709 3,926,055
2016/2017 Q1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,226,654 3,958,133
2016/2017 Q2 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,229,174 3,958,887
2016/2017 Q3 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,213,058 3,961,356
2016/2017 Q4 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,232,083 3,893,223
2017/2018 Q1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,185,559 3,822,215
2017/2018 Q2 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,199,358 3,827,160
2017/2018 Q3 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,186,301 3,845,351
2017/2018 Q4 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,179,785 3,760,003
2018/2019 Q1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,148,153 3,706,783
2018/2019 Q2 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,152,787 3,700,350
2018/2019 Q3 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,158,804 3,785,328
2018/2019 Q4 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,157,862 3,668,151
2019/2020 Q1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,125,241 3,640,560
2019/2020 Q2 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,126,255 3,657,847
2019/2020 Q3 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,120,400 3,692,182
2019/2020 Q4 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,119,609 3,651,144
2020/2021 Q1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,051,331 3,555,990
2020/2021 Q2 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,056,392 3,538,597
2020/2021 Q3 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,089,574 3,651,053
2020/2021 Q4 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,103,955 3,564,349
2021/2022 Q1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,046,960 3,485,720
2021/2022 Q2 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,061,476 3,519,276
2021/2022 Q3 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,068,587 3,548,166
2021/2022 Q4 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,084,103 3,488,277
2022/2023 Q1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,047,758 3,449,160
2022/2023 Q2 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,047,028 3,440,946
2022/2023 Q3 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,038,645 3,436,883
2022/2023 Q4 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,059,630 3,440,157
2023/2024 Q1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,025,432 3,356,373
2023/2024 Q2 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,039,821 3,389,972
2023/2024 Q3 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,031,403 3,401,783
2023/2024 Q4 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,039,244 3,371,711
2024/2025 Q1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,013,003 3,343,580
2024/2025 Q2 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,014,028 3,367,666
2024/2025 Q3 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,023,398 3,413,922
2024/2025 Q4 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1,030,459 3,321,429

Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Hypnotics and anxiolytics

Hypnotics and anxiolytics items and identified patients showed small changes across the 4 quarters of 2024/25. Items decreased by 2.71% from 3.41 million in Q3 to 3.32 million in Q4. Identified patients increased from 1.02 million in Q3 2023/24 to 1.03 million in Q4, a rise of 0.69%.

Identified patients and items were both lower when compared to the same quarters in 2023/24 except for a small increase of 0.36% in items prescribed in Q3 of 2024/25.

Number of identified patients prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics drugs by age band and gender, England 2024/25

The data used in this chart and table includes identified patients where age and gender are known (99.2%). The number of patients is the raw figure and has not been adjusted by the national population of the same age and gender group. When interpreting demographic information the underlying populations should also be considered.

Chart
Figure 4: More female patients were prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics than male patients
Table
Table 4: More female patients were prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics than male patients
BNF section name Age band Patient gender Total identified patients
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 0 to 4 Female 3,268
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 0 to 4 Male 6,276
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 5 to 9 Female 15,908
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 5 to 9 Male 33,236
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 10 to 14 Female 24,873
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 10 to 14 Male 49,894
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 15 to 19 Female 28,516
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 15 to 19 Male 34,210
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 20 to 24 Female 27,997
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 20 to 24 Male 20,817
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 25 to 29 Female 40,587
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 25 to 29 Male 25,572
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 30 to 34 Female 56,951
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 30 to 34 Male 35,628
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 35 to 39 Female 70,602
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 35 to 39 Male 42,366
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 40 to 44 Female 77,711
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 40 to 44 Male 47,265
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 45 to 49 Female 77,921
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 45 to 49 Male 48,112
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 50 to 54 Female 90,820
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 50 to 54 Male 56,639
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 55 to 59 Female 95,269
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 55 to 59 Male 59,713
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 60 to 64 Female 89,516
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 60 to 64 Male 57,017
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 65 to 69 Female 74,850
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 65 to 69 Male 47,986
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 70 to 74 Female 73,097
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 70 to 74 Male 45,303
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 75 to 79 Female 84,157
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 75 to 79 Male 50,356
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 80 to 84 Female 67,287
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 80 to 84 Male 38,648
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 85 to 89 Female 50,550
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 85 to 89 Male 27,461
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 90+ Female 40,455
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 90+ Male 16,939

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Hypnotics and anxiolytics

The number of hypnotics and anxiolytics patients differed in prescribing between males and females, continuing the pattern from previous years. In 2024/25 there were 1.09 million female patients and 743,000 male patients.

Female patients aged 55 to 59 were the largest group across all age and gender groups at 5.20% of all identified patients. This was followed by female patients aged 50 to 54, then female patients aged 60 to 64. Prescribing was most prevalent in the same age groups for male patients. There were more male patients than female patients in the youngest age group up to the 15 to 19 year old age group. All age groups for patients older than this had more female patients than male patients.

Number of identified patients prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics drugs by Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) quintile, England 2024/25

Chart
Figure 5: The most deprived areas had more identified patients prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics
Table
Table 5: The most deprived areas had more identified patients prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics
BNF section name IMD quintile Total identified patients
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 1 - Most Deprived 410,847
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 2 389,815
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 3 382,518
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 4 365,356
Hypnotics and anxiolytics 5 - Least Deprived 348,683

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Hypnotics and anxiolytics

There were an estimated 411,000 identified patients who were prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics in the most deprived areas in England in 2024/25. This was 17.8% more than the 349,000 identified patients in the least deprived areas.

There have also consistently been more items prescribed per patient in the most deprived areas than in the least deprived areas. In 2024/25, there were 9 items per patient prescribed in the most deprived areas compared to 6 items per patient in the least deprived areas.

Number of identified patients prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics drugs per 1,000 population by ICB, England 2024/25

Map
Figure 6 (map): The number of identified patients prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics per 1,000 population varied by ICB
Chart
Figure 6 (chart): The number of identified patients prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics per 1,000 population varied by ICB

Note: After rounding the data, some ICBs have the same number of estimated patients per 1,000 population. This chart has been arranged by the unrounded values for each ICB.

Table
Table 6: The number of identified patients prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics per 1,000 population varied by ICB
ICB name ICB code BNF section name Patients per 1000 population
NHS Devon Integrated Care Board QJK Hypnotics and anxiolytics 54.0
NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board QYG Hypnotics and anxiolytics 53.0
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board QGH Hypnotics and anxiolytics 51.5
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex Integrated Care Board QJG Hypnotics and anxiolytics 51.5
NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board QT6 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 50.9
NHS Sussex Integrated Care Board QNX Hypnotics and anxiolytics 50.8
NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board QJM Hypnotics and anxiolytics 49.0
NHS Derby and Derbyshire Integrated Care Board QJ2 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 48.7
NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board QR1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 48.6
NHS Dorset Integrated Care Board QVV Hypnotics and anxiolytics 45.2
NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board QOX Hypnotics and anxiolytics 44.9
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care Board QOC Hypnotics and anxiolytics 44.6
NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board QMM Hypnotics and anxiolytics 44.4
NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board QXU Hypnotics and anxiolytics 44.3
NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Integrated Care Board QHG Hypnotics and anxiolytics 43.3
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire Integrated Care Board QWU Hypnotics and anxiolytics 43.2
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board QK1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 41.3
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board QRL Hypnotics and anxiolytics 41.1
NHS Mid and South Essex Integrated Care Board QH8 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 40.3
NHS Somerset Integrated Care Board QSL Hypnotics and anxiolytics 40.1
NHS Black Country Integrated Care Board QUA Hypnotics and anxiolytics 38.9
NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board QNC Hypnotics and anxiolytics 38.4
NHS North Central London Integrated Care Board QMJ Hypnotics and anxiolytics 37.7
NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board QPM Hypnotics and anxiolytics 37.7
NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board QKS Hypnotics and anxiolytics 37.4
NHS Frimley Integrated Care Board QNQ Hypnotics and anxiolytics 36.5
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board QUY Hypnotics and anxiolytics 35.7
NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board QF7 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 34.9
NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board QOP Hypnotics and anxiolytics 34.5
NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Integrated Care Board QUE Hypnotics and anxiolytics 33.8
NHS South West London Integrated Care Board QWE Hypnotics and anxiolytics 33.4
NHS North West London Integrated Care Board QRV Hypnotics and anxiolytics 33.3
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board QM7 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 33.1
NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board QU9 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 32.7
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care Board QT1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 32.5
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board QE1 Hypnotics and anxiolytics 32.3
NHS Birmingham and Solihull Integrated Care Board QHL Hypnotics and anxiolytics 32.2
NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board QOQ Hypnotics and anxiolytics 30.8
NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board QWO Hypnotics and anxiolytics 28.5
NHS North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board QHM Hypnotics and anxiolytics 27.6
NHS North East London Integrated Care Board QMF Hypnotics and anxiolytics 27.6
NHS South East London Integrated Care Board QKK Hypnotics and anxiolytics 25.6

Source: Financial year statistical summary tables - Hypnotics and anxiolytics | Office for National Statistics - ICB Mid-year population estimates

NHS Devon ICB had the highest estimated number of identified patients per 1,000 population in 2024/25 who received at least one hypnotics and anxiolytics item, as was also the case in 2023/24. There were an estimated 54 patients per 1,000 population in this ICB.

NHS South East London ICB had the lowest estimated number of identified patients per 1,000 population who received at least one hypnotics and anxiolytics item in 2024/25, as was also the case in 2023/24. This ICB had an estimated 26 patients per 1,000 population.

3. Sections in this release