Simvastatin 40mg: Cost, Savings, and How to Pay Less
Simvastatin 40mg is a standard statin dose for cholesterol reduction, with a Drug Tariff price of approximately 65p per pack.
How much does Simvastatin 40mg cost on the NHS?
Simvastatin 40mg has a Drug Tariff price of approximately 65p for a 28-tablets pack — a full month's supply. Yet NHS patients in England pay a flat £9.90 per item. With 12m items dispensed in 2024/25, Simvastatin 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 Simvastatin 40mg actually cost?
The NHS Drug Tariff lists the reimbursement price for Simvastatin 40mg at approximately 65p 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
65p
per pack
NHS charge
£9.90
1,423% markup
Our price
£5.50
via private Rx
Simvastatin has approximately 12m items dispensed annually in England (NHSBSA PCA 2024/25).
What is Simvastatin used for?
Simvastatin 40mg is one of the most commonly prescribed doses of this statin. It provides moderate-to-high intensity cholesterol lowering and has been used for decades in cardiovascular risk management. NICE guidelines have shifted preference toward atorvastatin for most new prescriptions, but Simvastatin 40mg remains widely used.
The Drug Tariff price is approximately 65p per 28-tablet pack. Patients paying the prescription charge of £9.90 are effectively paying 15 times the drug's actual cost.
RepeatsDirect supplies Simvastatin 40mg for £5.50 per month, saving patients £4.40 compared to the NHS prescription charge.
How can you save money on Simvastatin 40mg?
Patients in England who pay the prescription charge can switch to a private prescription for Simvastatin 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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