Pain relief treatment sales growth in Great Britain 2010-2022

In 2022, the sales value of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relief medication in Great Britain grew by over nine percent. Together with 2019, it was the highest annual growth since 2010. The sales value of OTC pain relief experienced a decline in three of the years shown, in 2010, 2012, and 2017.

OTC medicine market in Great Britain

The sales value of OTC drugs has increased from 1.65 billion British pounds in the year 2000, to being worth approximately 3.22 billion British pounds in 2022. Pain relief had a sales value of 756 million British pounds in 2022, making it the category with the highest value. Cough, cold and sore throat medication followed with a sales value of around 572 million, while vitamins and minerals were the third highest at 461 million British pounds.

Growth of other OTC categories

At over nine percent, pain relief medication had one of the higher sales growth rates across OTC categories in Great Britain between 2021 and 2022. Three years before, the growth rate was similarly high, at 9.3 percent.