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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Acetylcysteine vs Mecysteine hydrochloride

National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Data updated May 2026

Acetylcysteine was dispensed 48,091.0× as often as Mecysteine hydrochloride in May 2026 — 48,091 items versus 1 in England.

48,091items

Acetylcysteine · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

1items

Mecysteine hydrochloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Acetylcysteine versus Mecysteine hydrochloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Acetylcysteine   ·   ╌ Mecysteine hydrochloride

0 24k 48k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Mecysteine hydro… 48,091 Jan 2021: 6k Feb 2021: 6k Mar 2021: 7k Apr 2021: 6k May 2021: 6k Jun 2021: 7k Jul 2021: 7k Aug 2021: 7k Sep 2021: 8k Oct 2021: 8k Nov 2021: 8k Dec 2021: 9k Jan 2022: 8k Feb 2022: 8k Mar 2022: 9k Apr 2022: 9k May 2022: 9k Jun 2022: 10k Jul 2022: 10k Aug 2022: 10k Sep 2022: 11k Oct 2022: 11k Nov 2022: 12k Dec 2022: 12k Jan 2023: 12k Feb 2023: 11k Mar 2023: 13k Apr 2023: 10k May 2023: 13k Jun 2023: 14k Jul 2023: 14k Aug 2023: 15k Sep 2023: 13k Oct 2023: 17k Nov 2023: 18k Dec 2023: 18k Jan 2024: 19k Feb 2024: 19k Mar 2024: 18k Apr 2024: 22k May 2024: 23k Jun 2024: 20k Jul 2024: 25k Aug 2024: 25k Sep 2024: 24k Oct 2024: 28k Nov 2024: 27k Dec 2024: 30k Jan 2025: 31k Feb 2025: 29k Mar 2025: 31k Apr 2025: 33k May 2025: 34k Jun 2025: 35k Jul 2025: 39k Aug 2025: 36k Sep 2025: 39k Oct 2025: 42k Nov 2025: 40k Jan 2026: 45k Feb 2026: 43k Mar 2026: 48k Apr 2026: 48k May 2026: 48k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Acetylcysteine versus Mecysteine hydrochloride, May 2026
Measure Acetylcysteine Mecysteine hydrochloride
Items, May 2026 48,091 1
Items, last 12 months 497,954 3
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £418,580 £42

See the full profile for Acetylcysteine or Mecysteine hydrochloride.