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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Lactulose vs Magnesium sulfate

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

Lactulose was dispensed 18,313.2× as often as Magnesium sulfate in May 2026 — 201,445 items versus 11 in England.

201,445items

Lactulose · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

11items

Magnesium sulfate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Lactulose versus Magnesium sulfate: national items dispensed by month

▬ Lactulose   ·   ╌ Magnesium sulfate

0 117k 235k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Magnesium sulfat… 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 Magnesium sulfate, May 2026
Measure Lactulose Magnesium sulfate
Items, May 2026 201,445 11
Items, last 12 months 2,504,086 99
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £1,667,135 £817

See the full profile for Lactulose or Magnesium sulfate.