Top 20 Most Prescribed Drugs in the UK in 2024–2025

It probably won’t come as much surprise that the latest figures from NHS England show a continuing rise in medication use, with 1.26 billion prescription items dispensed in 2024-25 making it a new record1. This massive volume costs the NHS around £11.2 billion, representing a 4% increase in the number of prescriptions and a 2% rise in costs compared to the previous year. While many of these medications are low-cost generics, the sheer scale of prescribing reflects a broader and more concerning story about the nation's health. Later in the article, we’ll share our views on why we might be seeing such an increase.

Behind these numbers lies a deeper insight into the chronic conditions most affecting people in the UK. The most commonly prescribed medicines offer a snapshot of the illnesses that are not only most prevalent, but also prioritised by NHS strategies focused on prevention, long-term care, and public health.

Which Drugs Are Prescribed the Most?

Top 20 Most Prescribed Drugs in the UK 2025

At the top of the list is atorvastatin, prescribed a staggering 73 million times in a single year1. This statin is used to lower cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular events such as heart attacks and strokes. Its widespread use reflects the NHS's long-term focus on cardiovascular disease prevention - still the leading cause of death in the UK. But many people have been critical about the use of statins.

In the UK, when a GP prescribes statins as part of managing patients with cardiovascular or related conditions (like coronary heart disease, PAD, stroke/TIA, or chronic kidney disease), it does count toward Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) targets, which in turn contribute to the practice’s QOF income.

We also know that some patients on statins get joint and muscle pains - perhaps even contributing towards attending Surrey Physio for physiotherapy and osteopathy treatment.

In addition, some groups believe the use of statins to be detrimental to health. For example, they suggest that there may be a link between statin use and dementia, although as far as we believe this does not seem to be backed up by evidence.

Following closely are:

  • #2: Amlodipine (~40 million prescriptions): a calcium channel blocker used for high blood pressure.
  • #3: Omeprazole (~36 million): proton pump inhibitor for acid reflux and stomach ulcers.
  • #4: Lansoprazole (~36 million): proton pump inhibitor for acid reflux and stomach ulcers.
  • #5: Ramipril (~35 million): an ACE inhibitor for hypertension and heart failure1.

With all of the above, there are some groups (including ourselves) who suggest that these drugs could be reduced and in many cases avoided through regular exercise and healthy eating. If patients can maintain a healthy weight, it is likely they will maintain a good blood pressure, preventing the use of amlodipine, the second most prescribed drug, and ramipril, the 5th most prescribed drug in the UK in 2025.

Acid reflux is also related to poor diets and poor-quality foods such as alcohol, fizzy drinks, spicy foods, take-aways, fast food, caffeine, and other medication that may affect metabolism. Of course, there may be other causes of acid reflux or stomach pains, however, improving lifestyle and diet should help prevent the use of both omeprazole and lansoprazole. We should also be mindful that the use of these drugs for over 1-year can contribute to osteoporosis.

What Health Conditions Do These Drugs Reflect?

The most commonly prescribed drugs reflect the chronic, non-communicable diseases that dominate modern healthcare systems:

  • Cardiovascular disease: Medications like atorvastatin, amlodipine, ramipril, bisoprolol, losartan, and clopidogrel show the breadth of pharmacological strategies used to manage blood pressure, cholesterol, and post-heart-attack care.
  • Gastrointestinal disorders: Omeprazole and lansoprazole are used by millions to manage symptoms of acid reflux, peptic ulcers, and GERD.
  • Endocrine disorders: Levothyroxine is used to treat hypothyroidism. Metformin reflects the rising tide of obesity-related metabolic disease in the UK.
  • Mental health: Prescriptions for sertraline, citalopram, mirtazapine, and amitriptyline highlight increasing treatment of depression, anxiety, and neuropathic pain.
  • Pain and inflammation: Paracetamol, aspirin, and co-codamol are widely used, revealing a high burden of chronic pain and musculoskeletal disorders.
  • Respiratory conditions: Beclometasone dipropionate, a steroid inhaler used for asthma and COPD, is also among the top 20.

Full List: Top 20 Most Prescribed Drugs in England (2024-25)1

  1. Atorvastatin
  2. Amlodipine
  3. Omeprazole
  4. Lansoprazole
  5. Levothyroxine
  6. Ramipril
  7. Bisoprolol
  8. Sertraline
  9. Metformin
  10. Aspirin
  11. Paracetamol
  12. Amitriptyline
  13. Simvastatin
  14. Citalopram
  15. Beclometasone dipropionate
  16. Mirtazapine
  17. Losartan
  18. Clopidogrel
  19. Furosemide
  20. Co-codamol

Why is Drug Use Increasing?

There are many reasons, and to cover them all would be outside the scope of this article. However, the most common reason is the declining health of the nation and our reliance on medication as a quick solution.

People need to make hard choices about the life they want to live. Do they want to take the easy route, eating poorly and sitting on a sofa watching reality TV? Or could they buy organic food, home cook, and go to the gym and exercise? While we understand that not everyone should be a saint, we try to encourage patients to follow the 90-10 rule - do 90% good things for your body and 10% of the time you can let yourself go a bit.

What About the Most Expensive Drugs?

Interestingly, the costliest drugs are not necessarily the most prescribed. For example:

  • Apixaban: a DOAC used to prevent strokes in people with AF, was only 26th by volume, but cost the NHS £362 million in 2024-252.
  • Beclometasone dipropionate: also featured as one of the highest-cost drugs, costing nearly £296 million due to its use in combination inhalers3.

These disparities highlight the challenge of balancing volume-based and cost-based prescribing. Drug pricing is influenced by patents, licensing, manufacturing, and competition. Generics are usually cheap, but newer drugs can have a large financial impact.

What Do These Trends Say About Public Health?

Taken together, these prescribing patterns reflect a health system that is:

  • Heavily invested in chronic disease management
  • Focused on preventive care
  • Responsive to mental health needs
  • Caring for an ageing population

These data carry important messages for healthcare professionals. For physiotherapists, knowing which drugs patients are likely taking can guide assessment and treatment:

  • Statins or beta-blockers → adjust exercise prescriptions
  • Opioids or antidepressants → fatigue or dizziness may affect rehab
  • Inhalers → respiratory physiotherapy may improve mobility

The NHS’s most prescribed medicines provide a mirror to national health priorities. They support chronic illness care, promote quality of life, and help reduce hospital admissions. As medication use rises, we must remain vigilant about what is prescribed - and why.

References

  1. NHS Business Services Authority. Prescription Cost Analysis England 2024/25, published 5 June 2025.
  2. Chemist.Onl. Top 50 most prescribed drugs in the UK – Apixaban: 8.36 million prescriptions, £362 million cost.
  3. Chemist.Onl. Top 50 most prescribed drugs in the UK – Full 2024/25 list.