England 2015/16 to 2024/25

Published 24 July 2025

Summary

Antidepressant items and hypnotics and anxiolytics items followed the expected trend during 2024/25.

The number of CNS stimulants and drugs for ADHD items prescibed remained higher than the expected range of values in 2024/25.

In 2024/25, antipsychotics items were below the range of expected items based on pre-pandemic prescribing trends.

1. Things you should know

1.1. Prescribing during the COVID-19 pandemic

We have created a model to help users interpret the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on prescribing trends.

The number of expected prescription items for each BNF section during this period has been calculated by extrapolating figures for March 2020 to March 2025 according to:

  • the trend in prescription items for each section between April 2015 and February 2020
  • the number of dispensing days that occur in each month
  • the typical differences between each month of the year observed between April 2015 and February 2020
  • the typical differences between each combination of 20 year age band group and gender

A linear regression model has been used to estimate the number of items prescribed, to stay relatively simple and consistent with the model used in previous releases. The model estimates the expected number of items prescribed based on pre-pandemic trends, for each combination of age band and gender. These estimates have then been added together to get an estimate of the total items expected per month, with a 99% prediction interval (PI) calculated.

Prediction interval (PI)

A range calculated based on the uncertainty around the fit of the model. A 99% PI means the new observation is likely to fall within the interval of predicted values 99% of the time.

The data used in this model has been split into groups by patients’ 20 year age band and gender. As age band and gender were included in the model, the model was only fitted to data where age band and gender were both known. This means the items predictions made using the model are not based on the same full data used for prescribed item counts in the rest of this publication. These charts cannot be directly compared to each other or to the quarterly and monthly charts of items prescribed. More information on the methodology behind the model can be found in the background and methodology document

2. Results

2.1. Antidepressant prescribing

Expected and actual prescribing activity for antidepressants in England, March 2020 to March 2025

Chart
Figure 1: Antidepressant items mostly stayed within the range of prescribing expected in 2024/25
Table
Table 1: Antidepressant items mostly stayed within the range of prescribing expected in 2024/25
Year Month Prescribed items Expected items Lower 99 percent PI Upper 99 percent PI
202003 6,718,575 6,477,896 6,094,798 6,860,994
202004 6,405,878 6,181,598 5,799,216 6,563,979
202005 6,175,156 6,341,612 5,959,231 6,723,993
202006 6,396,954 6,442,267 6,062,871 6,821,664
202007 6,704,111 6,537,890 6,156,432 6,919,347
202008 6,081,045 6,334,121 5,946,749 6,721,493
202009 6,579,348 6,469,428 6,089,296 6,849,560
202010 6,733,150 6,679,582 6,299,450 7,059,714
202011 6,516,473 6,473,470 6,088,878 6,858,062
202012 6,995,988 6,737,413 6,358,016 7,116,809
202101 6,645,752 6,597,139 6,212,547 6,981,731
202102 6,273,839 6,260,451 5,880,745 6,640,157
202103 7,053,647 6,940,269 6,543,288 7,337,249
202104 6,823,988 6,505,370 6,113,971 6,896,769
202105 6,528,441 6,665,385 6,273,985 7,056,784
202106 6,945,687 6,766,040 6,377,758 7,154,322
202107 6,943,306 6,861,662 6,471,466 7,251,857
202108 6,645,026 6,657,893 6,261,518 7,054,269
202109 6,970,801 6,793,200 6,404,250 7,182,150
202110 6,688,064 6,864,754 6,473,354 7,256,153
202111 6,966,600 6,935,843 6,547,561 7,324,124
202112 7,285,831 7,061,185 6,672,903 7,449,467
202201 6,931,665 6,920,911 6,527,302 7,314,520
202202 6,496,595 6,584,223 6,195,538 6,972,909
202203 7,356,337 7,264,041 6,857,546 7,670,536
202204 6,870,083 6,829,142 6,426,487 7,231,798
202205 7,171,093 7,127,757 6,727,727 7,527,788
202206 6,986,987 6,812,611 6,388,893 7,236,330
202207 6,943,508 7,046,834 6,645,825 7,447,843
202208 7,154,638 7,120,266 6,720,873 7,519,659
202209 7,124,397 6,978,372 6,575,716 7,381,028
202210 7,056,912 7,188,526 6,785,870 7,591,182
202211 7,240,126 7,259,615 6,860,185 7,659,045
202212 7,221,856 7,384,957 6,985,528 7,784,387
202301 7,274,042 7,244,683 6,839,831 7,649,536
202302 6,703,548 6,907,996 6,508,076 7,307,916
202303 7,669,554 7,587,813 7,169,671 8,005,955
202304 6,869,267 7,014,314 6,582,338 7,446,291
202305 7,337,328 7,312,929 6,896,961 7,728,898
202306 7,452,924 7,413,584 7,000,928 7,826,241
202307 7,271,531 7,370,606 6,956,278 7,784,934
202308 7,437,854 7,444,038 7,031,369 7,856,707
202309 7,288,904 7,440,745 7,027,554 7,853,936
202310 7,420,808 7,512,298 7,096,330 7,928,267
202311 7,500,040 7,583,387 7,170,730 7,996,044
202312 7,430,657 7,570,129 7,151,987 7,988,271
202401 7,709,770 7,707,056 7,294,399 8,119,713
202402 7,238,558 7,370,368 6,954,482 7,786,254
202403 7,366,729 7,634,385 7,199,694 8,069,075
202404 7,604,859 7,615,287 7,187,048 8,043,527
202405 7,796,421 7,775,302 7,347,063 8,203,541
202406 7,257,833 7,598,756 7,165,466 8,032,047
202407 7,908,928 7,832,979 7,403,745 8,262,213
202408 7,601,629 7,767,810 7,339,983 8,195,638
202409 7,468,451 7,625,917 7,194,769 8,057,064
202410 7,943,615 7,974,671 7,546,432 8,402,910
202411 7,602,625 7,907,160 7,479,390 8,334,930
202412 7,797,730 7,893,902 7,460,611 8,327,192
202501 8,038,842 8,030,829 7,603,059 8,458,599
202502 7,178,812 7,555,540 7,127,129 7,983,951
202503 7,646,779 8,096,757 7,654,302 8,539,213

Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Antidepressant drugs monthly table

Between March 2020 and March 2025, there were 433 million antidepressant items prescribed to identified patients with a known age and gender. This was 0.33% less than the 435 million items expected based on historical trends.

Antidepressant items remained within the expected values for almost all of this period. In March 2025, the number of prescribed items was just below the expected range of values for the first time in this time period.

2.2. Hypnotics and anxiolytics prescribing

Expected and actual prescribing activity for hypnotics and anxiolytics in England, March 2020 to March 2025

Chart
Figure 2: Hypnotics and anxiolytics items stayed within the range of prescribing expected in 2024/25
Table
Table 2: Hypnotics and anxiolytics items stayed within the range of prescribing expected in 2024/25
Year Month Prescribed items Expected items Lower 99 percent PI Upper 99 percent PI
202003 1,186,547 1,192,649 1,138,864 1,246,434
202004 1,172,981 1,108,042 1,054,358 1,161,727
202005 1,109,944 1,132,246 1,078,561 1,185,930
202006 1,151,658 1,151,239 1,097,973 1,204,504
202007 1,195,096 1,166,148 1,112,593 1,219,702
202008 1,076,470 1,121,849 1,067,464 1,176,235
202009 1,156,601 1,152,905 1,099,536 1,206,274
202010 1,179,812 1,186,963 1,133,595 1,240,332
202011 1,135,238 1,124,346 1,070,351 1,178,341
202012 1,222,622 1,183,069 1,129,804 1,236,335
202101 1,153,248 1,148,886 1,094,891 1,202,881
202102 1,089,379 1,069,588 1,016,279 1,122,897
202103 1,208,588 1,209,604 1,153,870 1,265,339
202104 1,142,953 1,091,727 1,036,776 1,146,677
202105 1,082,348 1,115,930 1,060,979 1,170,881
202106 1,148,168 1,134,923 1,080,410 1,189,436
202107 1,152,067 1,149,832 1,095,050 1,204,613
202108 1,102,231 1,105,534 1,049,884 1,161,183
202109 1,154,987 1,136,589 1,081,983 1,191,196
202110 1,104,776 1,137,376 1,082,425 1,192,327
202111 1,142,342 1,141,302 1,086,789 1,195,815
202112 1,190,048 1,166,753 1,112,241 1,221,266
202201 1,130,463 1,132,571 1,077,310 1,187,831
202202 1,061,383 1,053,272 998,702 1,107,842
202203 1,188,188 1,193,289 1,136,219 1,250,359
202204 1,099,393 1,075,411 1,018,880 1,131,942
202205 1,136,975 1,132,886 1,076,723 1,189,048
202206 1,104,971 1,052,064 992,576 1,111,552
202207 1,084,336 1,100,244 1,043,945 1,156,544
202208 1,126,228 1,122,489 1,066,416 1,178,562
202209 1,124,242 1,087,002 1,030,471 1,143,533
202210 1,102,786 1,121,060 1,064,529 1,177,591
202211 1,120,618 1,124,986 1,068,908 1,181,064
202212 1,109,025 1,150,438 1,094,360 1,206,516
202301 1,126,057 1,116,255 1,059,415 1,173,094
202302 1,032,921 1,036,956 980,809 1,093,103
202303 1,175,192 1,176,973 1,118,268 1,235,678
202304 1,038,005 1,025,824 965,176 1,086,471
202305 1,101,687 1,083,298 1,024,898 1,141,699
202306 1,112,291 1,102,291 1,044,356 1,160,226
202307 1,083,954 1,083,929 1,025,759 1,142,098
202308 1,115,354 1,106,174 1,048,237 1,164,110
202309 1,086,457 1,103,958 1,045,948 1,161,968
202310 1,101,356 1,104,744 1,046,344 1,163,145
202311 1,103,280 1,108,670 1,050,735 1,166,606
202312 1,091,385 1,100,850 1,042,145 1,159,556
202401 1,136,342 1,133,210 1,075,275 1,191,146
202402 1,061,571 1,053,912 995,524 1,112,300
202403 1,068,619 1,094,114 1,033,085 1,155,143
202404 1,092,513 1,076,051 1,015,928 1,136,174
202405 1,114,426 1,100,254 1,040,131 1,160,377
202406 1,032,667 1,052,704 991,872 1,113,536
202407 1,120,099 1,100,884 1,040,622 1,161,147
202408 1,079,213 1,089,858 1,029,793 1,149,923
202409 1,063,160 1,054,370 993,839 1,114,902
202410 1,130,073 1,121,700 1,061,577 1,181,823
202411 1,073,099 1,092,355 1,032,298 1,152,412
202412 1,104,017 1,084,535 1,023,703 1,145,367
202501 1,137,362 1,116,895 1,056,838 1,176,952
202502 1,014,584 1,004,325 944,178 1,064,472
202503 1,066,878 1,111,070 1,048,951 1,173,188

Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Hypnotics and anxiolytics monthly table

There were 68.1 million hypnotics and anxiolytics items prescribed between March 2020 and March 2025 to identified patients with a known age and gender. This was only 0.29% more items prescribed than the 67.9 million items expected based on historical trends.

Hypnotics and anxiolytics mostly stayed within the range of values expected for items in this period, except for April 2020.

2.4. CNS stimulants and drugs used for ADHD prescribing

Expected and actual prescribing activity for CNS stimulants and drugs used for ADHD items in England, March 2020 to March 2025

Chart
Figure 4: CNS stimulants and drugs used for ADHD items stayed above the range of prescribing expected in 2024/25
Table
Table 4: CNS stimulants and drugs used for ADHD items stayed above the range of prescribing expected in 2024/25
Year Month Prescribed items Expected items Lower 99 percent PI Upper 99 percent PI
202003 144,874 129,845 113,338 146,352
202004 129,910 123,587 107,111 140,063
202005 123,326 129,139 112,663 145,615
202006 128,446 131,664 115,317 148,012
202007 133,358 131,033 114,597 147,470
202008 120,218 121,019 104,327 137,710
202009 138,359 131,205 114,826 147,584
202010 141,945 133,492 117,113 149,872
202011 139,244 131,586 115,015 148,158
202012 145,075 135,919 119,572 152,267
202101 138,715 134,340 117,769 150,912
202102 130,050 127,768 111,407 144,129
202103 150,783 141,402 124,297 158,508
202104 147,313 132,786 115,922 149,651
202105 144,905 138,339 121,475 155,204
202106 153,610 140,864 124,134 157,595
202107 152,064 140,233 123,421 157,046
202108 139,820 130,219 113,140 147,298
202109 156,000 140,405 123,645 157,164
202110 151,853 140,334 123,470 157,199
202111 160,131 143,144 126,414 159,874
202112 165,757 145,119 128,389 161,850
202201 164,706 143,540 126,580 160,500
202202 152,547 136,968 120,220 153,716
202203 178,624 150,602 133,087 168,117
202204 167,155 141,986 124,637 159,336
202205 179,132 149,897 132,661 167,134
202206 180,821 145,349 127,091 163,606
202207 176,602 147,075 129,797 164,354
202208 169,468 141,776 124,567 158,985
202209 186,428 147,247 129,897 164,596
202210 184,643 149,534 132,185 166,884
202211 193,046 152,344 135,134 169,555
202212 188,073 154,319 137,109 171,530
202301 193,378 152,740 135,296 170,185
202302 187,958 146,168 128,936 163,400
202303 219,051 159,802 141,785 177,819
202304 193,538 148,829 130,216 167,441
202305 214,275 156,739 138,816 174,662
202306 218,401 159,264 141,484 177,045
202307 214,084 156,275 138,423 174,128
202308 207,921 150,976 133,195 168,757
202309 214,580 158,804 141,001 176,608
202310 215,159 158,734 140,811 176,658
202311 218,483 161,544 143,764 179,325
202312 212,022 161,161 143,145 179,178
202401 231,283 164,298 146,518 182,079
202402 215,041 157,726 139,806 175,645
202403 231,042 164,287 145,557 183,016
202404 234,988 162,744 144,292 181,196
202405 244,487 168,297 149,845 186,749
202406 231,401 166,106 147,437 184,776
202407 243,848 167,833 149,338 186,328
202408 229,049 160,176 141,742 178,610
202409 243,729 165,647 147,069 184,224
202410 257,960 170,292 151,840 188,744
202411 253,834 170,744 152,312 189,176
202412 261,532 170,361 151,692 189,031
202501 278,698 173,498 155,066 191,930
202502 255,693 164,568 146,108 183,027
202503 283,669 175,844 156,780 194,909

Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - CNS stimulants and drugs used for ADHD monthly table

From March 2020 to March 2025, 11.5 million CNS stimulants and drugs used for ADHD items were prescribed to identified patients with known age and gender. This was 26.1% more than the 9.09 million items expected based on historical trends.

CNS stimulants and drugs used for ADHD items have remained consistently higher than the range of items expected based on historical trends. The last time CNS stimulants and drugs used in ADHD were inside the range of expected values was in February 2022. Since 2015/16 there has always been an increase between February and March. This increase happened again between February and March 2025, this rise was steeper than the rise during the same time period in 2023/24.

The model is based on data containing identified patients with known age and gender only. CNS stimulants and drugs used for ADHD have a relatively low patient identification rate, so a lower proportion of prescribing is included in the model data. For example, patient identification for this BNF section was 79.3% in Q1 of 2015/16, rising to 90.1% in Q4 of 2024/25. This may have an impact on how well the model can extrapolate expected values from the data.

2.5. Drugs for dementia prescribing

Expected and actual prescribing activity for drugs for dementia items in England, March 2020 to March 2025

Chart
Figure 5: Drugs for dementia items mostly stayed below the range of prescribing expected in 2024/25
Table
Table 5: Drugs for dementia items mostly stayed below the range of prescribing expected in 2024/25
Year Month Prescribed items Expected items Lower 99 percent PI Upper 99 percent PI
202003 338,988 351,918 310,016 393,819
202004 353,430 337,037 295,214 378,860
202005 323,304 346,431 304,608 388,254
202006 329,367 353,033 311,536 394,529
202007 338,205 359,663 317,941 401,385
202008 311,307 351,886 309,517 394,255
202009 325,077 356,459 314,882 398,036
202010 333,214 369,406 327,828 410,983
202011 319,488 358,180 316,115 400,245
202012 339,597 371,861 330,364 413,358
202101 319,711 361,117 319,052 403,182
202102 297,532 342,464 300,933 383,995
202103 331,690 378,800 335,380 422,220
202104 322,000 356,370 313,560 399,179
202105 311,439 365,764 322,954 408,573
202106 328,910 372,365 329,897 414,834
202107 332,821 378,996 336,318 421,674
202108 322,307 371,219 327,865 414,573
202109 332,910 375,792 333,250 418,333
202110 319,518 381,189 338,380 423,999
202111 331,901 385,062 342,593 427,531
202112 345,877 391,194 348,725 433,663
202201 328,777 380,450 337,398 423,501
202202 308,560 361,797 319,284 404,309
202203 343,564 398,132 353,672 442,593
202204 328,093 375,702 331,662 419,743
202205 341,386 392,646 348,892 436,400
202206 332,362 376,600 330,255 422,944
202207 333,007 390,779 346,919 434,640
202208 346,782 398,101 354,417 441,785
202209 339,899 387,575 343,534 431,616
202210 342,250 400,522 356,481 444,563
202211 350,046 404,395 360,707 448,083
202212 347,462 410,527 366,839 454,215
202301 348,718 399,783 355,502 444,064
202302 320,432 381,130 337,388 424,871
202303 364,158 417,465 371,731 463,200
202304 329,563 387,486 340,238 434,734
202305 354,929 404,429 358,933 449,926
202306 361,151 411,031 365,896 456,166
202307 354,254 410,112 364,795 455,430
202308 365,527 417,434 372,298 462,570
202309 359,132 414,457 369,264 459,650
202310 367,558 419,855 374,358 465,352
202311 375,351 423,728 378,593 468,862
202312 370,053 422,310 376,576 468,045
202401 382,366 426,665 381,530 471,799
202402 359,877 408,012 362,524 453,499
202403 363,219 421,700 374,155 469,244
202404 378,758 421,917 375,078 468,756
202405 386,852 431,312 384,472 478,151
202406 366,417 422,815 375,423 470,206
202407 403,504 436,994 390,047 483,942
202408 385,941 436,766 389,972 483,560
202409 380,741 426,241 379,084 473,398
202410 403,597 446,737 399,898 493,576
202411 389,213 443,060 396,273 489,848
202412 402,472 441,643 394,252 489,035
202501 409,841 445,997 399,210 492,785
202502 368,062 419,795 372,937 466,653
202503 385,801 448,582 400,188 496,976

Source: Quarterly statistical summary tables - Drugs for dementia monthly table

There were 21.3 million drugs for dementia items prescribed from March 2020 to March 2025 to identified patients with known age and gender. This was 11.6% less than the 24.1 million items expected to be prescribed. Drugs for dementia items have generally fallen below or just inside the range of values expected for items across this time period. In 2024/25, the number of items prescribed dropped below the 99% prediction interval for 5 out of the 12 months.

3. Sections in this release