Bisacodyl vs Lactulose
National NHS prescribing compared (Prescription Cost Analysis)
Lactulose was dispensed 2.8× as often as Bisacodyl in March 2026 — 214,099 items versus 77,120 in England.
77,120items
Bisacodyl · March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
214,099items
Lactulose · March 2026
NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis
Figure 1. Bisacodyl versus Lactulose: national items dispensed by month
▬ Bisacodyl · ╌ Lactulose
Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to March 2026
| Measure | Bisacodyl | Lactulose |
|---|---|---|
| Items, March 2026 | 77,120 | 214,099 |
| Items, last 12 months | 918,883 | 2,500,629 |
| Net ingredient cost, March 2026 | £181,772 | £1,491,363 |