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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Lactulose vs Phosphates (Rectal)

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

Lactulose was dispensed 35.9× as often as Phosphates (Rectal) in April 2026 — 210,602 items versus 5,870 in England.

210,602items

Lactulose · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

5,870items

Phosphates (Rectal) · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Lactulose versus Phosphates (Rectal): national items dispensed by month

▬ Lactulose   ·   ╌ Phosphates (Rectal)

0 117k 235k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 Apr 2026 Phosphates (Rect… 210,602 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

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to April 2026

Lactulose versus Phosphates (Rectal), April 2026
Measure Lactulose Phosphates (Rectal)
Items, April 2026 210,602 5,870
Items, last 12 months 2,510,438 74,746
Net ingredient cost, April 2026 £1,740,368 £1,075,642

See the full profile for Lactulose or Phosphates (Rectal).