Effectiveness of Laxatives in the Elderly - NIHR Health Technology ...

12
Treatment of constipation
TABLE 4 contd Total costs of selected prescribed laxatives and number of items prescribed in each class in England: January 1995 –
March 1996 (from data supplied by Prescription Prescribing Authority)
Class of laxative Cost (£)
(BNF section)
Jan–Mar 1995 Apr–June 1995 July–Sept 1995 Oct–Dec 1995 Jan–Mar 1996
Osmotic (1.6.4)
Lactitol 24,797 25,267 25,638 25,453 24,106
Lactulose 2,918,726 2,839,046 2,619,730 2,645,277 2,646,056
Magnesium hydroxide 37,364 39,823 46,336 49,630 51,875
Phosphates (rectal) 128,103 130,480 135,243 131,778 132,372
Sodium citrate (rectal) 298,070 301,119 312,734 313,237 308,710
Total cost of section 1.6.4 3,411,114 3,339,891 3,143,950 3,169,282 3,167,535
(number of items) (1,093,185) (1,083,652) (1,097,054) (1,108,585) (1,112,167)
The category totals differ slightly from the sum of the costs shown as expenditure on infrequently prescribed agents is omitted –
e.g. £37 was spent on oxphenysatin in first quarter of 1995. Magnesium sulphate and magnesium citrate costs are £200–400
per quarter.
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
1994
Average
Cost (£ millions)
January–March
1995
April–June
1995
Class of laxative
July–September
1995
October–December
1995
Cost of faecal softeners not shown for reasons of scale: approximately £13,000 per quarter
January–March
1996
FIGURE 3 Total costs of classes of prescribed laxatives in England: January 1995 – March 1996 (.........., stimulant; ––––, osmotic;
– – – –, bulk)