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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Cefuroxime axetil vs Nitrofurantoin

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

Nitrofurantoin was dispensed 2,224.9× as often as Cefuroxime axetil in May 2026 — 333,741 items versus 150 in England.

150items

Cefuroxime axetil · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

333,741items

Nitrofurantoin · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Cefuroxime axetil versus Nitrofurantoin: national items dispensed by month

▬ Cefuroxime axetil   ·   ╌ Nitrofurantoin

0 204k 408k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Nitrofurantoin 150 Jan 2021: 294 Feb 2021: 262 Mar 2021: 273 Apr 2021: 265 May 2021: 284 Jun 2021: 292 Jul 2021: 274 Aug 2021: 247 Sep 2021: 254 Oct 2021: 281 Nov 2021: 289 Dec 2021: 286 Jan 2022: 243 Feb 2022: 220 Mar 2022: 242 Apr 2022: 262 May 2022: 221 Jun 2022: 235 Jul 2022: 206 Aug 2022: 208 Sep 2022: 165 Oct 2022: 181 Nov 2022: 166 Dec 2022: 216 Jan 2023: 218 Feb 2023: 219 Mar 2023: 255 Apr 2023: 205 May 2023: 189 Jun 2023: 207 Jul 2023: 212 Aug 2023: 210 Sep 2023: 203 Oct 2023: 192 Nov 2023: 167 Dec 2023: 199 Jan 2024: 220 Feb 2024: 192 Mar 2024: 179 Apr 2024: 214 May 2024: 186 Jun 2024: 141 Jul 2024: 170 Aug 2024: 215 Sep 2024: 210 Oct 2024: 202 Nov 2024: 186 Dec 2024: 209 Jan 2025: 192 Feb 2025: 186 Mar 2025: 173 Apr 2025: 199 May 2025: 188 Jun 2025: 166 Jul 2025: 185 Aug 2025: 137 Sep 2025: 124 Oct 2025: 160 Nov 2025: 139 Dec 2025: 172 Jan 2026: 147 Feb 2026: 129 Mar 2026: 152 Apr 2026: 140 May 2026: 150

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Cefuroxime axetil versus Nitrofurantoin, May 2026
Measure Cefuroxime axetil Nitrofurantoin
Items, May 2026 150 333,741
Items, last 12 months 1,801 4,416,505
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £2,984 £2,268,636

See the full profile for Cefuroxime axetil or Nitrofurantoin.