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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Lactulose vs Lubiprostone

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

Lactulose was dispensed 201,445.0× as often as Lubiprostone in May 2026 — 201,445 items versus 1 in England.

201,445items

Lactulose · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

1items

Lubiprostone · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Lactulose versus Lubiprostone: national items dispensed by month

▬ Lactulose   ·   ╌ Lubiprostone

0 117k 235k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Lubiprostone 201,445 Jan 2021: 227k Feb 2021: 213k Mar 2021: 235k Apr 2021: 223k May 2021: 211k Jun 2021: 221k Jul 2021: 218k Aug 2021: 207k Sep 2021: 218k Oct 2021: 207k Nov 2021: 214k Dec 2021: 220k Jan 2022: 213k Feb 2022: 200k Mar 2022: 224k Apr 2022: 207k May 2022: 214k Jun 2022: 207k Jul 2022: 205k Aug 2022: 210k Sep 2022: 210k Oct 2022: 205k Nov 2022: 211k Dec 2022: 205k Jan 2023: 212k Feb 2023: 193k Mar 2023: 218k Apr 2023: 192k May 2023: 206k Jun 2023: 209k Jul 2023: 203k Aug 2023: 208k Sep 2023: 204k Oct 2023: 208k Nov 2023: 211k Dec 2023: 205k Jan 2024: 218k Feb 2024: 203k Mar 2024: 203k Apr 2024: 211k May 2024: 211k Jun 2024: 199k Jul 2024: 217k Aug 2024: 207k Sep 2024: 204k Oct 2024: 217k Nov 2024: 206k Dec 2024: 209k Jan 2025: 217k Feb 2025: 192k Mar 2025: 204k Apr 2025: 201k May 2025: 208k Jun 2025: 202k Jul 2025: 217k Aug 2025: 198k Sep 2025: 212k Oct 2025: 217k Nov 2025: 200k Dec 2025: 219k Jan 2026: 217k Feb 2026: 197k Mar 2026: 214k Apr 2026: 211k May 2026: 201k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Lactulose versus Lubiprostone, May 2026
Measure Lactulose Lubiprostone
Items, May 2026 201,445 1
Items, last 12 months 2,504,086 11
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £1,667,135 £0

See the full profile for Lactulose or Lubiprostone.