Table 1 Top 25 BNF sections by number of Items

4.03**

Antidepressant drugs

4

Central Nervous System

67,530,457

85,404,864

8%

26%

2.12*

Lipid-regulating drugs

2

Cardiovascular System

72,612,421

82,961,403

7%

14%

2.05*

Hypertension and heart failure

2

Cardiovascular System

71,531,001

74,707,763

7%

4%

1.03

Antisecretory drugs and mucosal protectants

1

Gastro-Intestinal System

64,699,342

74,241,142

7%

15%

6.01

Drugs used in diabetes

6

Endocrine System

53,009,892

62,740,737

6%

18%

4.07

Analgesics

4

Central Nervous System

65,812,796

60,153,130

5%

− 9%

2.06

Nitrates, calcium-channel blockers and other antianginal drugs

2

Cardiovascular System

49,365,164

54,724,021

5%

11%

2.04*

Beta-adrenoceptor blocking drugs

2

Cardiovascular System

37,816,699

41,569,315

4%

10%

5.01*

Antibacterial drugs

5

Infections

37,060,004

35,786,987

3%

− 3%

6.02

Thyroid and antithyroid drugs

6

Endocrine System

32,170,037

34,210,414

3%

6%

2.09

Antiplatelet drugs

2

Cardiovascular System

35,082,373

32,203,313

3%

− 8%

9.06

Vitamins

9

Nutrition and Blood

30,701,877

32,501,986

3%

6%

2.02

Diuretics

2

Cardiovascular System

33,353,502

29,764,341

3%

− 11%

4.08

Antiepileptic drugs

4

Central Nervous System

26,649,294

31,218,324

3%

17%

3.01*

Bronchodilators

3

Respiratory System

31,228,824

30,381,115

3%

− 3%

3.02

Corticosteroids (respiratory)

3

Respiratory System

20,838,731

22,183,293

2%

6%

10.01

Drugs in rheumatic diseases and gout

10

Musculoskeletal and Joint Diseases

22,805,192

22,047,747

2%

− 3%

9.01

Anaemias and some other blood disorders

9

Nutrition and Blood

18,787,441

22,064,737

2%

17%

7.04

Drugs for genito-urinary disorders

7

Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Urinary-Tract Disorders

19,131,927

21,753,878

2%

14%

2.08

Anticoagulants and protamine

2

Cardiovascular System

16,999,802

20,378,949

2%

20%

1.06

Laxatives

1

Gastro-Intestinal System

18,512,759

18,802,212

2%

2%

3.04

Antihistamines and allergic emergencies

3

Respiratory System

14,359,226

14,608,098

1%

2%

4.01**

Hypnotics and anxiolytics

4

Central Nervous System

15,391,217

13,815,713

1%

− 10%

4.02**

Drugs used in psychoses and related disorders

4

Central Nervous System

11,803,257

13,315,874

1%

13%

14.04

Vaccines and antisera

14

Immunological and Vaccines

13,315,581

11,855,596

1%

− 11%

of total

25

Top Subtotal

813,038,359

857,990,088

84.8%

6%

105

Total Medication

1,060,112,747

1,112,920,677

5%

3

Total psychotropic**

94,724,931

112,536,451

10.1%

19%

5

Total Comparators*

250,248,949

265,406,583

23.8%

6.1%