Lansoprazole and Omeprazole: The UK's Most Prescribed Stomach Drugs

Lansoprazole and omeprazole are proton pump inhibitors — the class of acid-suppressing medicines most commonly prescribed in England. Together they account for approximately 73 million prescription items per year: lansoprazole at 37 million items and omeprazole at 36 million, according to NHSBSA PCA 2024/25 data. Both have Drug Tariff prices below £1. Both cost patients without an exemption £9.90 per prescription.

What Are Lansoprazole and Omeprazole Used For?

Lansoprazole and omeprazole are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) prescribed for acid reflux, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD), stomach ulcers, and to protect the stomach lining in patients taking anti-inflammatory drugs. Lansoprazole accounts for 37 million items per year in England and omeprazole for 36 million — making PPIs collectively one of the highest-volume drug classes in the NHS. Most patients take one tablet daily and remain on treatment long-term.

How Much Do These Drugs Cost on the Drug Tariff?

Lansoprazole 30mg has a Drug Tariff reimbursement price of approximately 82p per 28-capsule pack. Omeprazole 20mg costs approximately 70p per 28-tablet pack. Both are well under £1. Yet patients without a prescription exemption pay £9.90 for each item — more than eleven times the cost of lansoprazole and over fourteen times the cost of omeprazole. A patient on both medicines monthly pays £237.60 per year for drugs that cost the NHS less than £18 in total annual drug costs.

Do PPIs Qualify for Free NHS Prescriptions?

Proton pump inhibitors do not confer exemption status on their own. Whether a patient pays the charge depends on their personal circumstances — age, income, and other medical conditions — not their acid reflux diagnosis. Around 89% of all items in England are dispensed free, but patients of working age without other qualifying conditions will pay £9.90 per item. Long-term PPI users in this group are among those who stand to benefit most from switching to a private prescription.

What Does a Private Prescription for a PPI Cost?

A private prescription for lansoprazole or omeprazole through RepeatsDirect costs £5.50 per item — saving £4.40 per month versus the NHS charge. For a patient on lansoprazole alone, the annual saving switching from NHS charge to private prescription is £52.80. For a patient on both lansoprazole and omeprazole (for example, one as a PPI and one as a lower-dose maintenance), the annual saving is £105.60. Neither medicine requires complex clinical monitoring, making them well-suited for routine private prescribing by a pharmacist independent prescriber.

Is It Safe to Get PPIs on a Private Prescription?

Yes. Lansoprazole and omeprazole are well-established, widely used medicines with well-understood safety profiles. A pharmacist independent prescriber can assess suitability, confirm the indication, review for drug interactions (notably with clopidogrel in the case of omeprazole), and issue a private prescription. Patients who have been on a stable PPI dose for months or years are typically straightforward to assess. The medicine dispensed on a private prescription is the same licensed product as on an NHS prescription.

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