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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Mercaptamine vs Sodium benzoate

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

Sodium benzoate was dispensed 3.3× as often as Mercaptamine in May 2026 — 20 items versus 6 in England.

6items

Mercaptamine · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

20items

Sodium benzoate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Mercaptamine versus Sodium benzoate: national items dispensed by month

▬ Mercaptamine   ·   ╌ Sodium benzoate

0 26.5 53 Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 Jun 2024 Apr 2025 May 2026 Sodium benzoate 6 Jan 2021: 27 Feb 2021: 37 Mar 2021: 26 Apr 2021: 33 May 2021: 28 Jun 2021: 36 Jul 2021: 26 Aug 2021: 20 Sep 2021: 32 Oct 2021: 27 Nov 2021: 22 Dec 2021: 32 Jan 2022: 17 Feb 2022: 26 Mar 2022: 22 Apr 2022: 30 May 2022: 22 Jun 2022: 23 Jul 2022: 14 Aug 2022: 24 Sep 2022: 20 Oct 2022: 15 Nov 2022: 10 Dec 2022: 18 Jan 2023: 18 Feb 2023: 7 Mar 2023: 19 Apr 2023: 8 May 2023: 16 Jun 2023: 14 Jul 2023: 10 Aug 2023: 7 Sep 2023: 7 Oct 2023: 10 Nov 2023: 16 Dec 2023: 11 Feb 2024: 11 Mar 2024: 6 Apr 2024: 10 May 2024: 12 Jun 2024: 10 Jul 2024: 5 Aug 2024: 14 Sep 2024: 10 Oct 2024: 10 Nov 2024: 5 Dec 2024: 8 Jan 2025: 9 Feb 2025: 8 Mar 2025: 7 Apr 2025: 9 May 2025: 7 Jun 2025: 9 Jul 2025: 10 Aug 2025: 12 Sep 2025: 8 Oct 2025: 5 Nov 2025: 14 Dec 2025: 6 Jan 2026: 9 Feb 2026: 5 Mar 2026: 8 Apr 2026: 8 May 2026: 6

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Mercaptamine versus Sodium benzoate, May 2026
Measure Mercaptamine Sodium benzoate
Items, May 2026 6 20
Items, last 12 months 100 272
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £990 £4,698

See the full profile for Mercaptamine or Sodium benzoate.