Esomeprazole 40mg: Cost, Savings, and How to Pay Less
Esomeprazole 40mg is the treatment dose PPI for oesophagitis and reflux, costing approximately £1.40 per pack on the Drug Tariff.
How much does Esomeprazole 40mg cost on the NHS?
Esomeprazole 40mg has a Drug Tariff price of approximately £1.40 for a 28-tablets pack — a full month's supply. Yet NHS patients in England pay a flat £9.90 per item. With 10m items dispensed in 2024/25, Esomeprazole 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 Esomeprazole 40mg actually cost?
The NHS Drug Tariff lists the reimbursement price for Esomeprazole 40mg at approximately £1.40 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
£1.40
per pack
NHS charge
£9.90
607% markup
Our price
£5.50
via private Rx
Esomeprazole has approximately 10m items dispensed annually in England (NHSBSA PCA 2024/25).
What is Esomeprazole used for?
Esomeprazole 40mg is the treatment dose for healing reflux oesophagitis and maintaining remission. It provides potent acid suppression and is used when standard doses of other PPIs have been insufficient.
The Drug Tariff price for Esomeprazole 40mg is approximately £1.40 per 28-tablet pack. Even at this higher tariff price, the NHS charge of £9.90 represents a markup of over 600%.
Patients can access Esomeprazole 40mg through RepeatsDirect for £5.50 per month via private prescription.
How can you save money on Esomeprazole 40mg?
Patients in England who pay the prescription charge can switch to a private prescription for Esomeprazole 40mg 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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