England - October to December 2024
Published 6 March 2025
Summary
Between October and December 2024:
There were 3.4 million hypnotics and anxiolytics items prescribed to an estimated 1 million identified patients.
The cost of prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics items was £24 million.
1. Things you should know
Hypnotics are used to treat insomnia - a difficulty getting to sleep or staying asleep long enough to feel refreshed. Most hypnotics will sedate if given during the day. Anxiolytics are used in the treatment of anxiety states and if given at night will help to induce sleep. The drugs classified as hypnotics and anxiolytics are described in the BNF 68 section 4.1:
- BNF paragraph 4.1.1 - Hypnotics
- BNF paragraph 4.1.2 - Anxiolytics
- BNF paragraph 4.1.3 - Barbiturates
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. 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
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 prescribed items and identified patients by financial quarter - BNF 4.1: Hypnotics and anxiolytics
Chart
Figure 1: Hypnotics and anxiolytics items and identified patients increased in Q3 2024/25
Table
Table 1: Hypnotics and anxiolytics items and identified patients increased in Q3 2024/25
| Financial quarter | BNF section name | Total prescribed items | Identified patients |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019/2020 Q4 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,651,144 | 1,119,609 |
| 2020/2021 Q1 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,555,990 | 1,051,331 |
| 2020/2021 Q2 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,538,597 | 1,056,392 |
| 2020/2021 Q3 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,651,053 | 1,089,574 |
| 2020/2021 Q4 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,564,349 | 1,103,955 |
| 2021/2022 Q1 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,485,720 | 1,046,960 |
| 2021/2022 Q2 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,519,276 | 1,061,476 |
| 2021/2022 Q3 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,548,166 | 1,068,587 |
| 2021/2022 Q4 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,488,277 | 1,084,103 |
| 2022/2023 Q1 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,449,160 | 1,047,758 |
| 2022/2023 Q2 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,440,946 | 1,047,028 |
| 2022/2023 Q3 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,436,883 | 1,038,645 |
| 2022/2023 Q4 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,440,157 | 1,059,630 |
| 2023/2024 Q1 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,356,373 | 1,025,432 |
| 2023/2024 Q2 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,389,972 | 1,039,821 |
| 2023/2024 Q3 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,401,783 | 1,031,403 |
| 2023/2024 Q4 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,371,711 | 1,039,244 |
| 2024/2025 Q1 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,343,580 | 1,013,003 |
| 2024/2025 Q2 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,367,666 | 1,014,028 |
| 2024/2025 Q3 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 3,413,922 | 1,023,398 |
3.4 million hypnotics and anxiolytics items prescribed in Q3 2024/25.
1 million identified patients received a hypnotics and anxiolytics item in Q3 2024/25.
Hypnotics and anxiolytics items and identified patients increased slightly in Q3 2024/25, but show a long-term downwards trend overall.
Cost of prescribing by financial quarter - BNF 4.1: Hypnotics and anxiolytics
Chart
Figure 2: Hypnotics and anxiolytics costs increased in Q3 2024/25
Table
Table 2: Hypnotics and anxiolytics costs increased in Q3 2024/25
| Financial quarter | BNF section name | Cost (GBP) |
|---|---|---|
| 2019/2020 Q4 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 21,148,349 |
| 2020/2021 Q1 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 21,880,118 |
| 2020/2021 Q2 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 22,590,741 |
| 2020/2021 Q3 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 23,593,105 |
| 2020/2021 Q4 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 23,536,082 |
| 2021/2022 Q1 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 24,448,454 |
| 2021/2022 Q2 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 25,244,089 |
| 2021/2022 Q3 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 26,011,978 |
| 2021/2022 Q4 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 25,650,553 |
| 2022/2023 Q1 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 25,465,595 |
| 2022/2023 Q2 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 30,624,444 |
| 2022/2023 Q3 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 31,505,254 |
| 2022/2023 Q4 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 32,566,780 |
| 2023/2024 Q1 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 29,436,491 |
| 2023/2024 Q2 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 28,252,125 |
| 2023/2024 Q3 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 26,836,345 |
| 2023/2024 Q4 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 25,692,642 |
| 2024/2025 Q1 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 25,069,684 |
| 2024/2025 Q2 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 22,843,091 |
| 2024/2025 Q3 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 24,380,105 |
In Q3 2024/25, the cost of prescribed hypnotics and anxiolytics items was £24 million.
Compared to the previous quarter the cost of hypnotics and anxiolytics prescribing increased by 6.7%.
Number of prescribed items and identified patients by month - BNF 4.1: Hypnotics and anxiolytics
Chart
Figure 3: Hypnotics and anxiolytics items and identified patients decreased in the past twelve months
Table
Table 3: Hypnotics and anxiolytics items and identified patients decreased in the past twelve months
| Month | BNF section name | Total prescribed items | Identified patients |
|---|---|---|---|
| 202001 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,273,074 | 733,984 |
| 202002 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,144,134 | 686,989 |
| 202003 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,233,936 | 709,100 |
| 202004 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,213,598 | 688,762 |
| 202005 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,149,615 | 677,745 |
| 202006 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,192,777 | 692,462 |
| 202007 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,233,685 | 708,675 |
| 202008 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,111,558 | 664,478 |
| 202009 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,193,354 | 696,429 |
| 202010 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,217,634 | 708,339 |
| 202011 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,171,799 | 700,160 |
| 202012 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,261,620 | 718,609 |
| 202101 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,190,002 | 715,633 |
| 202102 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,124,854 | 691,500 |
| 202103 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,249,493 | 720,535 |
| 202104 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,180,815 | 690,712 |
| 202105 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,119,207 | 675,672 |
| 202106 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,185,698 | 690,815 |
| 202107 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,189,835 | 691,547 |
| 202108 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,137,341 | 673,530 |
| 202109 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,192,100 | 699,308 |
| 202110 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,140,894 | 681,054 |
| 202111 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,179,858 | 694,621 |
| 202112 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,227,414 | 701,552 |
| 202201 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,166,409 | 698,919 |
| 202202 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,095,780 | 673,214 |
| 202203 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,226,088 | 711,798 |
| 202204 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,134,124 | 669,691 |
| 202205 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,174,479 | 688,317 |
| 202206 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,140,557 | 672,951 |
| 202207 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,118,916 | 663,775 |
| 202208 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,162,380 | 673,645 |
| 202209 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,159,650 | 681,597 |
| 202210 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,138,592 | 674,158 |
| 202211 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,155,670 | 677,397 |
| 202212 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,142,621 | 656,114 |
| 202301 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,161,614 | 681,661 |
| 202302 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,065,839 | 649,727 |
| 202303 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,212,704 | 698,461 |
| 202304 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,070,789 | 646,859 |
| 202305 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,137,527 | 669,078 |
| 202306 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,148,057 | 672,902 |
| 202307 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,118,512 | 667,776 |
| 202308 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,149,849 | 671,258 |
| 202309 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,121,611 | 670,439 |
| 202310 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,136,705 | 672,348 |
| 202311 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,138,481 | 672,862 |
| 202312 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,126,597 | 664,067 |
| 202401 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,172,557 | 689,739 |
| 202402 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,096,110 | 662,660 |
| 202403 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,103,044 | 660,226 |
| 202404 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,127,870 | 667,678 |
| 202405 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,150,089 | 667,962 |
| 202406 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,065,621 | 646,755 |
| 202407 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,157,082 | 668,923 |
| 202408 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,113,433 | 654,332 |
| 202409 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,097,151 | 662,230 |
| 202410 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,165,934 | 678,996 |
| 202411 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,108,383 | 664,705 |
| 202412 | Hypnotics and anxiolytics | 1,139,605 | 665,926 |
Over the 12 months to December, an average of 666,000 identified patients per month received a hypnotics and anxiolytics item.
Compared to the previous 12 month period, hypnotics and anxiolytics items decreased by 0.6% in the 12 months to December.
3. Sections in this release
- Medicines used in Mental Health summary
- BNF Section 4.3 - Antidepressant drugs
- BNF Section 4.2 - Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders
- BNF Section 4.4 - Central nervous system (CNS) stimulants and drugs used for ADHD
- BNF Section 4.11 - Drugs for dementia
- Prescribing during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Medicines used in Mental Health background