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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Acetylcysteine

Respiratory System Mucolytics BNF 0307000C0
Data updated May 2026 Download CSV

Acetylcysteine was ranked 259th of 1,792 medicines by items in May 2026, with 48,091 items, up 39.6% on a year earlier.

48,091items +39.6%

Dispensed in May 2026

508,734items

Rolling 12 months

£418,580

Net ingredient cost · May 2026

Figure 1. Acetylcysteine: national items dispensed by month

0 24k 48k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 48,091 Jan 2021: 6k Feb 2021: 6k Mar 2021: 7k Apr 2021: 6k May 2021: 6k Jun 2021: 7k Jul 2021: 7k Aug 2021: 7k Sep 2021: 8k Oct 2021: 8k Nov 2021: 8k Dec 2021: 9k Jan 2022: 8k Feb 2022: 8k Mar 2022: 9k Apr 2022: 9k May 2022: 9k Jun 2022: 10k Jul 2022: 10k Aug 2022: 10k Sep 2022: 11k Oct 2022: 11k Nov 2022: 12k Dec 2022: 12k Jan 2023: 12k Feb 2023: 11k Mar 2023: 13k Apr 2023: 10k May 2023: 13k Jun 2023: 14k Jul 2023: 14k Aug 2023: 15k Sep 2023: 13k Oct 2023: 17k Nov 2023: 18k Dec 2023: 18k Jan 2024: 19k Feb 2024: 19k Mar 2024: 18k Apr 2024: 22k May 2024: 23k Jun 2024: 20k Jul 2024: 25k Aug 2024: 25k Sep 2024: 24k Oct 2024: 28k Nov 2024: 27k Dec 2024: 30k Jan 2025: 31k Feb 2025: 29k Mar 2025: 31k Apr 2025: 33k May 2025: 34k Jun 2025: 35k Jul 2025: 39k Aug 2025: 36k Sep 2025: 39k Oct 2025: 42k Nov 2025: 40k Dec 2025: 45k Jan 2026: 45k Feb 2026: 43k Mar 2026: 48k Apr 2026: 48k May 2026: 48k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

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At a glance

  • Therapeutic class Mucolytics
  • Presentations 15 shown
  • Average cost / item £8.70
  • Year on year Up 39.6% on a year earlier
What this is
Net ingredient cost is the list price before discounts and dispensing fees, not what the NHS finally pays.

Top presentations, May 2026

The individual products dispensed under Acetylcysteine this month.

Presentations of Acetylcysteine, May 2026
Presentation BNF code Items Net ingredient cost
Acetylcysteine 600mg effervescent tablets sugar free 0307000C0AAARAR 25,584 £139,757
NACSYS 600mg effervescent tablets 0307000C0BNAAAR 13,837 £78,254
Acepiro 600mg effervescent tablets 0307000C0BUAAAR 6,221 £34,261
Acetylcysteine 600mg tablets 0307000C0AAAMAM 1,190 £92,751
Acetylcysteine 600mg capsules 0307000C0AAAKAK 612 £50,522
Acetyl-NAC 600mg tablets 0307000C0BQABAM 157 £1,881
AceNAC 600mg tablets 0307000C0BRABAM 119 £1,724
OroNAC 600 tablets 0307000C0BFABAM 94 £3,127
Acetylcysteine 600mg effervescent tablets 0307000C0AAAJAJ 73 £2,085
OroNAC 600 capsules 0307000C0BFAAAK 55 £2,395
Respi-Nac 600mg effervescent tablets 0307000C0BLAAAJ 28 £550
Acetylcysteine 200mg oral powder sachets sugar free 0307000C0AAAQAQ 27 £5,880
AbNAC 600mg tablets 0307000C0BVABAM 20 £302
A-CYS 600mg tablets 0307000C0BEAFAM 17 £697
AceCil 600mg effervescent tablets 0307000C0BSAAAR 13 £31

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis · to May 2026 OGL v3.0

Where Acetylcysteine is dispensed

The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Acetylcysteine volumes.

Regional volumes from NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis; practice volumes from NHS dispensing data.

Compare Acetylcysteine with

Other medicines in the same BNF section, by prescribing volume.