Skip to content
Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Senna vs Lactulose

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

Senna was dispensed 1.9× as often as Lactulose in May 2026 — 389,942 items versus 201,445 in England.

389,942items

Senna · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

201,445items

Lactulose · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Senna versus Lactulose: national items dispensed by month

▬ Senna   ·   ╌ Lactulose

0 209k 418k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Lactulose 389,942 Jan 2021: 348k Feb 2021: 323k Mar 2021: 358k Apr 2021: 346k May 2021: 331k Jun 2021: 353k Jul 2021: 356k Aug 2021: 341k Sep 2021: 354k Oct 2021: 340k Nov 2021: 350k Dec 2021: 361k Jan 2022: 341k Feb 2022: 320k Mar 2022: 359k Apr 2022: 341k May 2022: 355k Jun 2022: 347k Jul 2022: 347k Aug 2022: 360k Sep 2022: 355k Oct 2022: 352k Nov 2022: 360k Dec 2022: 354k Jan 2023: 356k Feb 2023: 327k Mar 2023: 372k Apr 2023: 336k May 2023: 361k Jun 2023: 370k Jul 2023: 361k Aug 2023: 374k Sep 2023: 364k Oct 2023: 370k Nov 2023: 376k Dec 2023: 368k Jan 2024: 374k Feb 2024: 352k Mar 2024: 352k Apr 2024: 369k May 2024: 375k Jun 2024: 355k Jul 2024: 388k Aug 2024: 374k Sep 2024: 367k Oct 2024: 390k Nov 2024: 372k Dec 2024: 384k Jan 2025: 394k Feb 2025: 353k Mar 2025: 372k Apr 2025: 379k May 2025: 388k Jun 2025: 382k Jul 2025: 409k Aug 2025: 378k Sep 2025: 399k Oct 2025: 410k Nov 2025: 379k Dec 2025: 418k Jan 2026: 403k Feb 2026: 373k Mar 2026: 404k Apr 2026: 404k May 2026: 390k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Senna versus Lactulose, May 2026
Measure Senna Lactulose
Items, May 2026 389,942 201,445
Items, last 12 months 4,750,042 2,504,086
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £383,435 £1,667,135

See the full profile for Senna or Lactulose.