Bisacodyl vs Lactulose
National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Lactulose was dispensed 2.7× as often as Bisacodyl in May 2026 — 201,445 items versus 74,577 in England.
74,577items
Bisacodyl · May 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
201,445items
Lactulose · May 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
Figure 1. Bisacodyl versus Lactulose: national items dispensed by month
▬ Bisacodyl · ╌ Lactulose
Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026
| Measure | Bisacodyl | Lactulose |
|---|---|---|
| Items, May 2026 | 74,577 | 201,445 |
| Items, last 12 months | 917,568 | 2,504,086 |
| Net ingredient cost, May 2026 | £178,153 | £1,667,135 |