Thank you for your request for information about the following:
Request
‘Please can you provide me with the total annual number of prescriptions for the following drugs on the NHS for each of the last 5 calendar years, including 2024? Please break down per individual dopamine agonist and partial dopamine agonist medication per year. Please search by drug (i.e. Ropinirole) but also other brand names shown in brackets (e.g. Requip, Norprolac).
DOPAMINE AGONISTS:
Pramipexole: Available as tablets (Mirapexin, Pipexus, Glepark, Oprymea, Zentiva).
Ropinirole: Available as tablets (Adartrel, Ralnea, Requip, Spiroco, Ipinnia, Raponer, Repinix, Ropilynz).
Rotigotine: Available as a skin patch (Neupro).
Apomorphine: A dopamine agonist that can be injected (Apo-go, Dacepton).
Cabergoline: Primarily used for hyperprolactinaemia. (Dostinex)
Bromocriptine: Used for hyperprolactinaemia and prolactinomas. (also know as Parlodel)
Quinagolide: Used for hyperprolactinaemia. (Norprolac)
PARTIAL DOPAMINE AGONISTS:
Aripiprazole (Abilify)
Brexpiprazole (Rexulti)
Cariprazine (Reagila)’
The NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA) received your request on 20 May 2025.
We have handled your request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).
Our response
The NHSBSA does hold the requested information; however, the information you requested is available at the following web links:
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/prescription-cost-analysis-england/prescription-cost-analysis-england-202425
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/prescription-cost-analysis-england/prescription-cost-analysis-england-202324
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/prescription-cost-analysis-england/prescription-cost-analysis-england-2022-23
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/prescription-cost-analysis-england/prescription-cost-analysis-england-202122
https://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/statistical-collections/prescription-cost-analysis-england/prescription-cost-analysis-england-2020-21
The National Summary Tables provide data for the calendar year, then the Chemical_Substances or Presentations tabs will provide information on the requested drugs, depending on the level of granularity you require.
We’re giving you these links because the information you have requested has already been published and is therefore available in the public domain. Under Section 21 of the FOIA we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you.
Please see the following link to view the section 21 in full - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/36/section/21
Data Queries
Please contact foirequests@nhsbsa.nhs.uk ensuring you quote the above reference if you have any specific questions regarding this response; or, if you feel you may be misunderstanding or misinterpreting the information; or, if you plan on publishing the data.
Reusing the data and copyright
If you plan on producing a press or broadcast story based upon the data please contact communicationsteam@nhsbsa.nhs.uk. This is important to ensure that the figures are not misunderstood or misrepresented.
The information supplied to you continues to be protected by the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 and is subject to NHSBSA copyright. This information is licenced under the terms of the Open Government Licence detailed at:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/
Should you wish to re-use the information you must include the following statement: “NHSBSA Copyright 2025”. Failure to do so is a breach of the terms of the licence.
Information you receive which is not subject to NHSBSA Copyright continues to be protected by the copyright of the person, or organisation, from which the information originated. Please obtain their permission before reproducing any third party (non NHSBSA Copyright) information.
