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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Magnesium oxide vs Sodium bicarbonate

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

Sodium bicarbonate was dispensed 1.4× as often as Magnesium oxide in May 2026 — 503 items versus 364 in England.

364items

Magnesium oxide · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

503items

Sodium bicarbonate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

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

▬ Magnesium oxide   ·   ╌ Sodium bicarbonate

0 363.5 727 Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Apr 2025 May 2026 Sodium bicarbona… 364 Jan 2021: 368 Feb 2021: 347 Mar 2021: 422 Apr 2021: 362 May 2021: 344 Jun 2021: 369 Jul 2021: 386 Aug 2021: 374 Sep 2021: 364 Oct 2021: 371 Nov 2021: 333 Dec 2021: 361 Jan 2022: 374 Feb 2022: 364 Mar 2022: 385 Apr 2022: 386 May 2022: 391 Jun 2022: 359 Jul 2022: 372 Aug 2022: 365 Sep 2022: 370 Oct 2022: 349 Nov 2022: 377 Dec 2022: 347 Jan 2023: 361 Feb 2023: 354 Mar 2023: 371 Apr 2023: 358 May 2023: 414 Jun 2023: 369 Jul 2023: 364 Aug 2023: 375 Sep 2023: 352 Oct 2023: 372 Nov 2023: 368 Dec 2023: 352 Jan 2024: 396 Feb 2024: 374 Mar 2024: 345 Apr 2024: 423 May 2024: 357 Jun 2024: 330 Jul 2024: 368 Aug 2024: 412 Oct 2024: 369 Nov 2024: 347 Dec 2024: 400 Jan 2025: 372 Feb 2025: 321 Mar 2025: 347 Apr 2025: 343 May 2025: 324 Jun 2025: 359 Jul 2025: 396 Aug 2025: 346 Sep 2025: 370 Oct 2025: 381 Nov 2025: 355 Dec 2025: 381 Jan 2026: 352 Feb 2026: 322 Mar 2026: 358 Apr 2026: 329 May 2026: 364

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Magnesium oxide versus Sodium bicarbonate, May 2026
Measure Magnesium oxide Sodium bicarbonate
Items, May 2026 364 503
Items, last 12 months 4,313 6,745
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £29,027 £132,692

See the full profile for Magnesium oxide or Sodium bicarbonate.