Atorvastatin 20mg: Cost, Savings, and How to Pay Less
Atorvastatin 20mg is a widely-prescribed statin for cholesterol reduction, with a Drug Tariff price of approximately 42p per 28-tablet pack.
How much does Atorvastatin 20mg cost on the NHS?
Atorvastatin 20mg has a Drug Tariff price of approximately 42p for a 28-tablets pack — a full month's supply. Yet NHS patients in England pay a flat £9.90 per item. With 73m items dispensed in 2024/25, Atorvastatin is one of the most prescribed drugs in England. Through RepeatsDirect, patients can access the same medication privately for £5.50/month.
How much does Atorvastatin 20mg actually cost?
The NHS Drug Tariff lists the reimbursement price for Atorvastatin 20mg at approximately 42p per 28-tablets pack. This is the price the NHS pays pharmacies for the drug itself. The NHS prescription charge of £9.90 covers this drug cost plus dispensing fees, administration, and a contribution to NHS services — but for cheap generic drugs, it represents a significant markup.
Drug Tariff cost
42p
per pack
NHS charge
£9.90
2,257% markup
Our price
£5.50
via private Rx
Atorvastatin has approximately 73m items dispensed annually in England (NHSBSA PCA 2024/25).
What is Atorvastatin used for?
Atorvastatin 20mg is one of the most commonly prescribed doses of this statin medication. It is used to lower LDL cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events. Atorvastatin is the single most dispensed drug in England, with over 73 million items prescribed annually across all doses.
The Drug Tariff price for a 28-tablet pack of Atorvastatin 20mg is approximately 42p — less than the cost of a first-class stamp. The NHS prescription charge is £9.90 — more than 23 times the actual cost of the drug. The difference goes largely towards the cost of running the NHS prescription service, not the medicine itself.
For patients who pay the prescription charge, RepeatsDirect offers Atorvastatin 20mg for £5.50 per month via a private prescription from a qualified pharmacist independent prescriber. That's a saving of £4.40 per item, or £52.80 per year.
How can you save money on Atorvastatin 20mg?
Patients in England who pay the prescription charge can switch to a private prescription for Atorvastatin 20mg and pay significantly less. Through RepeatsDirect, a qualified pharmacist independent prescriber conducts a short clinical review and issues a private prescription. You pay £5.50 per month — saving £4.40 per month, or £52.80 per year.
| Option | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| NHS prescription charge | £9.90 | £118.80 |
| RepeatsDirect (private Rx) | £5.50 | £66.00 |
| Annual PPC (unlimited NHS Rx) | £9.54/mo avg | £114.50 |
A PPC is better value if you pay for 12+ items per year. RepeatsDirect is better value if you pay for fewer items or only want to switch the cheapest drugs.
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