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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Sodium chloride vs Potassium bicarbonate

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

Sodium chloride was dispensed 5,551.0× as often as Potassium bicarbonate in May 2026 — 11,102 items versus 2 in England.

11,102items

Sodium chloride · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

2items

Potassium bicarbonate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Sodium chloride versus Potassium bicarbonate: national items dispensed by month

▬ Sodium chloride   ·   ╌ Potassium bicarbonate

0 6k 12k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Potassium bicarb… 11,102 Jan 2021: 8k Feb 2021: 8k Mar 2021: 9k Apr 2021: 8k May 2021: 8k Jun 2021: 9k Jul 2021: 9k Aug 2021: 9k Sep 2021: 9k Oct 2021: 9k Nov 2021: 9k Dec 2021: 9k Jan 2022: 9k Feb 2022: 8k Mar 2022: 9k Apr 2022: 9k May 2022: 9k Jun 2022: 9k Jul 2022: 10k Aug 2022: 10k Sep 2022: 10k Oct 2022: 9k Nov 2022: 10k Dec 2022: 9k Jan 2023: 10k Feb 2023: 9k Mar 2023: 10k Apr 2023: 9k May 2023: 10k Jun 2023: 10k Jul 2023: 10k Aug 2023: 10k Sep 2023: 10k Oct 2023: 10k Nov 2023: 9k Dec 2023: 10k Jan 2024: 10k Feb 2024: 10k Mar 2024: 10k Apr 2024: 10k May 2024: 10k Jun 2024: 9k Jul 2024: 11k Aug 2024: 10k Sep 2024: 10k Oct 2024: 10k Nov 2024: 10k Dec 2024: 10k Jan 2025: 10k Feb 2025: 9k Mar 2025: 10k Apr 2025: 10k May 2025: 11k Jun 2025: 11k Aug 2025: 11k Sep 2025: 11k Oct 2025: 11k Nov 2025: 10k Dec 2025: 12k Jan 2026: 11k Feb 2026: 10k Mar 2026: 12k Apr 2026: 11k May 2026: 11k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Sodium chloride versus Potassium bicarbonate, May 2026
Measure Sodium chloride Potassium bicarbonate
Items, May 2026 11,102 2
Items, last 12 months 131,757 21
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £332,803 £1,400

See the full profile for Sodium chloride or Potassium bicarbonate.