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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Sodium picosulfate vs Lactulose

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

Lactulose was dispensed 10.0× as often as Sodium picosulfate in May 2026 — 201,445 items versus 20,149 in England.

20,149items

Sodium picosulfate · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

201,445items

Lactulose · May 2026

NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis

Figure 1. Sodium picosulfate versus Lactulose: national items dispensed by month

▬ Sodium picosulfate   ·   ╌ Lactulose

0 117k 235k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 Lactulose 20,149 Jan 2021: 16k Feb 2021: 15k Mar 2021: 16k Apr 2021: 16k May 2021: 15k Jun 2021: 16k Jul 2021: 16k Aug 2021: 15k Sep 2021: 16k Oct 2021: 15k Nov 2021: 15k Dec 2021: 16k Jan 2022: 17k Feb 2022: 16k Mar 2022: 18k Apr 2022: 17k May 2022: 17k Jun 2022: 17k Jul 2022: 17k Aug 2022: 17k Sep 2022: 17k Oct 2022: 17k Nov 2022: 17k Dec 2022: 17k Jan 2023: 18k Feb 2023: 17k Mar 2023: 19k Apr 2023: 17k May 2023: 18k Jun 2023: 18k Jul 2023: 18k Aug 2023: 18k Sep 2023: 18k Oct 2023: 18k Nov 2023: 19k Dec 2023: 18k Jan 2024: 20k Feb 2024: 19k Mar 2024: 19k Apr 2024: 20k May 2024: 20k Jun 2024: 19k Jul 2024: 20k Aug 2024: 19k Sep 2024: 19k Oct 2024: 20k Nov 2024: 19k Dec 2024: 20k Jan 2025: 21k Feb 2025: 18k Mar 2025: 20k Apr 2025: 19k May 2025: 20k Jun 2025: 20k Jul 2025: 21k Aug 2025: 19k Sep 2025: 20k Oct 2025: 21k Nov 2025: 19k Dec 2025: 21k Jan 2026: 21k Feb 2026: 19k Mar 2026: 21k Apr 2026: 21k May 2026: 20k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

Sodium picosulfate versus Lactulose, May 2026
Measure Sodium picosulfate Lactulose
Items, May 2026 20,149 201,445
Items, last 12 months 245,181 2,504,086
Net ingredient cost, May 2026 £317,850 £1,667,135

See the full profile for Sodium picosulfate or Lactulose.