Methadone
Health
Written answers and statements, 2 November 2009
Mike Wood (Batley & Spen, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the average cost of a methadone prescription was in each of the last five years; and what the total cost of methadone prescriptions was in the last five years.
Mike O'Brien (Minister of State (Health Services), Department of Health; North Warwickshire, Labour)
The information requested is shown in the following tables. The British National Formulary lists methadone in three separate sections: as a cough suppressant; as an opioid analgesic; and for the treatment of drug dependence. Data have been provided on the basis of this classification according to the preparation dispensed, not the purpose of the prescription.
| Average net ingredient cost per prescription item | |||||
| £ | |||||
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Cough suppressant | 3.24 | 4.05 | 4.17 | 3.70 | 3.74 |
| Opioid analgesics | 22.95 | 22.57 | 21.62 | 21.21 | 20.59 |
| Drugs used in substance dependence | 8.12 | 8.67 | 9.22 | 11.37 | 12.35 |
| Average | 8.84 | 9.27 | 9.68 | 11.70 | 12.59 |
| Total net ingredient cost | |||||
| £000 | |||||
| 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | |
| Cough suppressant | 3.5 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.6 | 4.0 |
| Opioid analgesics | 2,015.6 | 1,993.5 | 1,831.7 | 1,781.1 | 1,693.2 |
| Drugs used in substance dependence | 13,972.6 | 16,949.2 | 20,201.5 | 27,362.1 | 32,778.7 |
| Total | 15,991.6 | 18,946.7 | 22,037.5 | 29,147.8 | 34,476.0 |
| Source: Prescription Cost Analysis System | |||||