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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Alkyl sulfate vs Benzalkonium chloride

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

Benzalkonium chloride was dispensed 20.1× as often as Alkyl sulfate in April 2026 — 4,687 items versus 233 in England.

233items

Alkyl sulfate · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

4,687items

Benzalkonium chloride · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Alkyl sulfate versus Benzalkonium chloride: national items dispensed by month

▬ Alkyl sulfate   ·   ╌ Benzalkonium chloride

0 2k 5k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 Apr 2026 Benzalkonium chl… 233 Jan 2021: 211 Feb 2021: 178 Mar 2021: 239 Apr 2021: 257 May 2021: 198 Jun 2021: 167 Jul 2021: 166 Aug 2021: 146 Sep 2021: 179 Oct 2021: 151 Nov 2021: 188 Dec 2021: 196 Jan 2022: 221 Feb 2022: 211 Mar 2022: 207 Apr 2022: 217 May 2022: 212 Jun 2022: 203 Jul 2022: 151 Aug 2022: 144 Sep 2022: 140 Oct 2022: 161 Nov 2022: 168 Dec 2022: 190 Jan 2023: 232 Feb 2023: 212 Mar 2023: 238 Apr 2023: 205 May 2023: 189 Jun 2023: 159 Jul 2023: 110 Aug 2023: 103 Sep 2023: 112 Oct 2023: 132 Nov 2023: 212 Dec 2023: 155 Jan 2024: 219 Feb 2024: 204 Mar 2024: 193 Apr 2024: 188 May 2024: 166 Jun 2024: 128 Jul 2024: 139 Aug 2024: 114 Sep 2024: 100 Oct 2024: 124 Nov 2024: 93 Dec 2024: 106 Jan 2025: 107 Feb 2025: 88 Mar 2025: 87 Apr 2025: 79 May 2025: 81 Jun 2025: 165 Jul 2025: 164 Aug 2025: 118 Sep 2025: 172 Oct 2025: 186 Nov 2025: 178 Dec 2025: 195 Jan 2026: 184 Feb 2026: 172 Mar 2026: 229 Apr 2026: 233

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to April 2026

Alkyl sulfate versus Benzalkonium chloride, April 2026
Measure Alkyl sulfate Benzalkonium chloride
Items, April 2026 233 4,687
Items, last 12 months 2,077 56,499
Net ingredient cost, April 2026 £684 £32,142

See the full profile for Alkyl sulfate or Benzalkonium chloride.