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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Magnesium hydroxide vs Sodium bicarbonate

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

Sodium bicarbonate was dispensed 1.8× as often as Magnesium hydroxide in April 2026 — 563 items versus 315 in England.

315items

Magnesium hydroxide · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

563items

Sodium bicarbonate · April 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Magnesium hydroxide versus Sodium bicarbonate: national items dispensed by month

▬ Magnesium hydroxide   ·   ╌ Sodium bicarbonate

0 363.5 727 Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 Apr 2026 Sodium bicarbona… 315 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

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to April 2026

Magnesium hydroxide versus Sodium bicarbonate, April 2026
Measure Magnesium hydroxide Sodium bicarbonate
Items, April 2026 315 563
Items, last 12 months 3,537 6,782
Net ingredient cost, April 2026 £3,945 £134,361

See the full profile for Magnesium hydroxide or Sodium bicarbonate.