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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Desmopressin acetate vs Tolvaptan

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

Desmopressin acetate was dispensed 1,781.4× as often as Tolvaptan in May 2026 — 28,503 items versus 16 in England.

28,503items

Desmopressin acetate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

16items

Tolvaptan · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Desmopressin acetate versus Tolvaptan: national items dispensed by month

▬ Desmopressin acetate   ·   ╌ Tolvaptan

0 15k 30k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Tolvaptan 28,503 Jan 2021: 23k Feb 2021: 21k Mar 2021: 23k Apr 2021: 23k May 2021: 22k Jun 2021: 24k Jul 2021: 24k Aug 2021: 22k Sep 2021: 24k Oct 2021: 23k Nov 2021: 24k Dec 2021: 25k Jan 2022: 24k Feb 2022: 22k Mar 2022: 26k Apr 2022: 24k May 2022: 26k Jun 2022: 25k Jul 2022: 25k Aug 2022: 25k Sep 2022: 25k Oct 2022: 25k Nov 2022: 26k Dec 2022: 26k Jan 2023: 26k Feb 2023: 24k Mar 2023: 28k Apr 2023: 24k May 2023: 27k Jun 2023: 27k Jul 2023: 27k Aug 2023: 26k Sep 2023: 27k Oct 2023: 27k Nov 2023: 27k Dec 2023: 27k Jan 2024: 27k Feb 2024: 26k Mar 2024: 27k Apr 2024: 27k May 2024: 28k Jun 2024: 27k Jul 2024: 29k Aug 2024: 26k Sep 2024: 28k Oct 2024: 29k Nov 2024: 28k Dec 2024: 29k Jan 2025: 29k Feb 2025: 25k Mar 2025: 28k Apr 2025: 28k May 2025: 29k Jun 2025: 29k Jul 2025: 30k Aug 2025: 27k Sep 2025: 29k Oct 2025: 30k Nov 2025: 27k Dec 2025: 30k Jan 2026: 29k Feb 2026: 27k Mar 2026: 30k Apr 2026: 29k May 2026: 29k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Desmopressin acetate versus Tolvaptan, May 2026
Measure Desmopressin acetate Tolvaptan
Items, May 2026 28,503 16
Items, last 12 months 345,442 283
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £1,258,699 £17,518

See the full profile for Desmopressin acetate or Tolvaptan.