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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Magnesium hydroxide vs Alginic acid compound preparations

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

Alginic acid compound preparations was dispensed 1,131.7× as often as Magnesium hydroxide in May 2026 — 355,365 items versus 314 in England.

314items

Magnesium hydroxide · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

355,365items

Alginic acid compound preparations · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Magnesium hydroxide versus Alginic acid compound preparations: national items dispensed by month

▬ Magnesium hydroxide   ·   ╌ Alginic acid compound preparations

0 196k 392k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Alginic acid com… 314 Jan 2021: 208 Feb 2021: 132 Mar 2021: 127 Apr 2021: 110 May 2021: 78 Jun 2021: 210 Jul 2021: 174 Aug 2021: 223 Sep 2021: 263 Oct 2021: 246 Nov 2021: 206 Dec 2021: 203 Jan 2022: 218 Feb 2022: 222 Mar 2022: 246 Apr 2022: 241 May 2022: 276 Jun 2022: 266 Jul 2022: 273 Aug 2022: 279 Sep 2022: 272 Oct 2022: 272 Nov 2022: 265 Dec 2022: 178 Jan 2023: 191 Feb 2023: 201 Mar 2023: 277 Apr 2023: 220 May 2023: 243 Jun 2023: 291 Jul 2023: 263 Aug 2023: 279 Sep 2023: 264 Oct 2023: 254 Nov 2023: 247 Dec 2023: 307 Jan 2024: 281 Feb 2024: 265 Mar 2024: 253 Apr 2024: 263 May 2024: 280 Jun 2024: 271 Jul 2024: 275 Aug 2024: 278 Sep 2024: 278 Oct 2024: 300 Nov 2024: 282 Dec 2024: 222 Jan 2025: 232 Feb 2025: 270 Mar 2025: 269 Apr 2025: 260 May 2025: 232 Jun 2025: 273 Jul 2025: 339 Aug 2025: 290 Sep 2025: 315 Oct 2025: 277 Nov 2025: 277 Dec 2025: 306 Jan 2026: 313 Feb 2026: 292 Mar 2026: 308 Apr 2026: 315 May 2026: 314

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Magnesium hydroxide versus Alginic acid compound preparations, May 2026
Measure Magnesium hydroxide Alginic acid compound preparations
Items, May 2026 314 355,365
Items, last 12 months 3,619 4,394,364
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £4,122 £3,325,642

See the full profile for Magnesium hydroxide or Alginic acid compound preparations.