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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Erythromycin stearate vs Nitrofurantoin

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

Nitrofurantoin was dispensed 517.4× as often as Erythromycin stearate in May 2026 — 333,741 items versus 645 in England.

645items

Erythromycin stearate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

333,741items

Nitrofurantoin · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Erythromycin stearate versus Nitrofurantoin: national items dispensed by month

▬ Erythromycin stearate   ·   ╌ Nitrofurantoin

0 204k 408k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Nitrofurantoin 645 Jan 2021: 856 Feb 2021: 806 Mar 2021: 964 Apr 2021: 957 May 2021: 956 Jun 2021: 900 Jul 2021: 867 Aug 2021: 863 Sep 2021: 948 Oct 2021: 802 Nov 2021: 867 Dec 2021: 859 Jan 2022: 768 Feb 2022: 757 Mar 2022: 887 Apr 2022: 841 May 2022: 892 Jun 2022: 780 Jul 2022: 726 Aug 2022: 694 Sep 2022: 640 Oct 2022: 719 Nov 2022: 735 Dec 2022: 1k Jan 2023: 943 Feb 2023: 792 Mar 2023: 785 Apr 2023: 687 May 2023: 730 Jun 2023: 694 Jul 2023: 681 Aug 2023: 683 Sep 2023: 653 Oct 2023: 758 Nov 2023: 731 Dec 2023: 832 Jan 2024: 878 Feb 2024: 783 Mar 2024: 742 Apr 2024: 838 May 2024: 748 Jun 2024: 724 Jul 2024: 757 Aug 2024: 659 Sep 2024: 741 Oct 2024: 785 Nov 2024: 764 Dec 2024: 875 Jan 2025: 762 Feb 2025: 680 Mar 2025: 774 Apr 2025: 800 May 2025: 866 Jun 2025: 797 Jul 2025: 797 Aug 2025: 703 Sep 2025: 736 Oct 2025: 706 Nov 2025: 684 Dec 2025: 703 Jan 2026: 607 Feb 2026: 632 Mar 2026: 643 Apr 2026: 637 May 2026: 645

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Erythromycin stearate versus Nitrofurantoin, May 2026
Measure Erythromycin stearate Nitrofurantoin
Items, May 2026 645 333,741
Items, last 12 months 8,290 4,416,505
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £8,226 £2,268,636

See the full profile for Erythromycin stearate or Nitrofurantoin.