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Independent analysis of NHS open data
PharmaInsight

Sodium bicarbonate

Nutrition and Blood Fluids and electrolytes BNF 0902013S0
Data updated May 2026 Download CSV

Sodium bicarbonate was ranked 244th of 1,792 medicines by items in May 2026, with 54,107 items, up 4.0% on a year earlier.

54,107items +4%

Dispensed in May 2026

654,059items

Rolling 12 months

£488,777

Net ingredient cost · May 2026

Figure 1. Sodium bicarbonate: national items dispensed by month

0 29k 58k Jan 2021 Nov 2021 Sep 2022 Jul 2023 May 2024 Mar 2025 May 2026 54,107 Jan 2021: 38k Feb 2021: 36k Mar 2021: 40k Apr 2021: 39k May 2021: 37k Jun 2021: 40k Jul 2021: 40k Aug 2021: 39k Sep 2021: 40k Oct 2021: 39k Nov 2021: 40k Dec 2021: 42k Jan 2022: 40k Feb 2022: 37k Mar 2022: 41k Apr 2022: 40k May 2022: 41k Jun 2022: 41k Jul 2022: 41k Aug 2022: 42k Sep 2022: 42k Oct 2022: 42k Nov 2022: 43k Dec 2022: 43k Jan 2023: 43k Feb 2023: 40k Mar 2023: 45k Apr 2023: 41k May 2023: 44k Jun 2023: 44k Jul 2023: 44k Aug 2023: 46k Sep 2023: 45k Oct 2023: 45k Nov 2023: 46k Dec 2023: 46k Jan 2024: 47k Feb 2024: 45k Mar 2024: 45k Apr 2024: 47k May 2024: 48k Jun 2024: 45k Jul 2024: 50k Aug 2024: 49k Sep 2024: 47k Oct 2024: 50k Nov 2024: 49k Dec 2024: 50k Jan 2025: 51k Feb 2025: 46k Mar 2025: 49k Apr 2025: 50k May 2025: 52k Jun 2025: 51k Jul 2025: 56k Aug 2025: 52k Sep 2025: 55k Oct 2025: 56k Nov 2025: 53k Dec 2025: 58k Jan 2026: 56k Feb 2026: 52k Mar 2026: 56k Apr 2026: 55k May 2026: 54k

Source: NHSBSA Prescription Cost Analysis, to May 2026

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At a glance

  • Therapeutic class Fluids and electrolytes
  • Presentations 11 shown
  • Average cost / item £9.03
  • Year on year Up 4.0% 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 Sodium bicarbonate this month.

Presentations of Sodium bicarbonate, May 2026
Presentation BNF code Items Net ingredient cost
Sodium bicarbonate 500mg capsules 0902013S0AAACAC 52,512 £453,473
Nephrotrans 500mg gastro-resistant capsules 0902013S0BFAAAQ 1,210 £23,715
Sodium bicarbonate 600mg tablets 0902013S0AAAPAP 334 £10,987
EssCarb 600mg tablets 0902013S0BDAAAP 31 £317
BiCarb-600 tablets 0902013S0BEABAP 9 £151
BiCarb-500 capsules 0902013S0BEAAAC 5 £6
S-Bicarb 600mg tablets 0902013S0BCAAAP 2 £94
Sodium bicarbonate 1g capsules 0902013S0AAAFAF 1 £29
EssCarb 500mg capsules 0902013S0BDABAC 1 £2
AciBic 500mg capsules 0902013S0BGAAAC 1 £1
AciBic 600mg tablets 0902013S0BGABAP 1 £3

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

Where Sodium bicarbonate is dispensed

The regions and dispensing practices with the highest Sodium bicarbonate volumes.

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

Compare Sodium bicarbonate with

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