Anusol Ointment vs Preparation H? Which Is Better? Discover the Truth!!!!

Anusol Ointment vs Preparation H? Which Is Better? So you have hemorrhoids and you don't know which to buy, Preparation H or Anusol Ointment.

You can easily get both Preparation H and Anusol (also known as Anusol HC) at Walgreens, CVS and of course on Amazon. The question is which one will you buy?

We will compare and contrast the ingredients, customer reviews and costs.

The first thing you should do is pick up a bottle of HemRid Max, which is Amazon's #1 selling hemorrhoid supplement and that may do the trick by itself. We recommend pairing HemRid with either Anusol or Preparation H (read on to find out which of the two is our clear choice). 

Using the top hemorrhoids supplement (HemRid) and the top hemorrhoid cream together will make sure you get long term relief from your hemorrhoids.

The great thing about HemRid is that it is amazing for hemorrhoids and comes with a 120 day guarantee, so you can try it risk free. 

If you are interested in learning more about Amazon's #1 hemorrhoid supplement, click the image below.

Our decision is also dependent on you; What type of hemorrhoids do you have? Was it caused by frequently strained bowel movement, pregnancy, or obesity? If you have had them before, has anything worked for you? What does your doctor or pharmacist prescribe? 

First, remember that we are individuals and are all different.

Some people respond better with hemorrhoids to hydrocortisone found in Preparation H cream and suppositories.

Others respond better to the ingredient Witch Hazel, witch is found in Tucks Medicated Pads and Preparation H medicated wipes and hemorrhoid supplements like HemRid.

If this is your first go around with hemorrhoids, maybe taking the multi-modal approach i.e. cream, wipe and supplement combo will be your best option.

That is, you have to combine applying, patting and blotting, and swallowing all at once.

Rest assured, you'll thank us for this.  

For wipes, we recommend Tucks; for an oral supplement we recommend HemRid; for the best hemorrhoid cream, see our comparison below.

Which Is Better Anusol Ointment Ingredients Or Preparation H Ingredients?

As they say the proof is in the pudding, or in this case in the active Preparation H and Anusol Ingredients. The formulas are quite different.

For Anusol Ointment Ingredients, the active ingredient is zinc sulfate monohydrate.

Zinc sulfate monohydrate is zinc ointment which is used to reduce irritation, provide a protective barrier on the skin and also act as an astringent. Anusol cream and ointment has a few key ingredients that we know are "known" to help hemorrhoids.

An astringent is something that causes the contraction of tissue. In other words, an astringent causes the tissue to shrink in the affected area(1). When this happens, the swollen blood vessels deflate, leading to relief for hemorrhoid patients. 

For hemorrhoids, which are swollen blood vessels, the use of an astringent is paramount to getting relief.

In fact, why do think hemorrhoid wipes and supplements work so well, because they use astringents.

Basically, all hemorrhoid wipes contain a 50% witch hazel solution. Witch Hazel is one the most powerful astringents.

Hemorrhoid supplements are also packed with astringents.

Take HemRid for instance, Amazons best selling hemorrhoid supplement, its jam packed with powerful astringents, witch hazel, horse chestnut and bilberry.

So again, if your not sure what works for you, pair your ointment with an oral astringent and a wipe.

If you have a Grade 3 or Grade 4 prolapsed hemorrhoid or an external thrombosed hemorrhoid, you may want to see a doctor. Our hemorrhoid surgery guide will help you determine which surgery may be right for you.

Preparation H cream ingredients are completely different. 

Preparation H takes a four pronged approach and includes the following active ingredients: Petrolatum 71.9%, Mineral Oil 14%, Shark Liver Oil 3% and Phenylephrine HCl 0.25%.

So what are they and why are they good for your hemorrhoids?

Let’s start with Petrolatum. Petrolatum is what we commonly know as petroleum jelly.

Just like the zinc in Anusol the petrolatum reduces irritation and provides a protective barrier over the skin. Mineral oil and shark liver oil aslo work to reduce irritation.

The last ingredient Phenylephrine HCl 0.25% is the real medicine in the cream. It is part of a class of compounds called sympathomimetic amines.

These types of compounds actually shrink the blood vessels (2).

As a result, Preparation H can claim in their product description that the cream relieves swelling, burning and pain caused by hemorrhoids.

Phenylephrine HCl 0.25% works like an astringent to shrink the tissue.

As you can see, the formulas are totally different yet they both have ingredients proven to shrink the tissue and provide a soothing protective barrier on your skin.

But which is better, right? Let’s see what the users say in their reviews.

Anusol Ointment Reviews v. Preparation H Reviews. Who Has Better Reviews?

Since both of these products have ben on the market for years, there is a plethora of reviews regarding their effectiveness at treating hemorrhoids.

The best hemorrhoid treatment is one that significantly heals your hemorrhoids.

Due to Amazon being a trusted marketplace, our comparison starts there.

Anusol is offered on Amazon and has 197 reviews and an overall star rating of 4.4 stars out of five.

Preparation H on the other hand has 126 reviews with also a 4.4 star rating out of 5 stars. Yes. I know. They are the same rating.

So what should do? Let’s take a look at the costs.

Preparation H Cost v. Anusol Cost, What Is The Better Value Hemorrhoid Ointment?

Unfortunately we have tie here as well. They are both offered at around $6 per ounce of medicine. Whether you buy Anusol at Walgreens, CVS or Amazon, the price is about the same, $6. The same goes for Preparation H. It is about $6 to buy Preparation H at CVS, Walmart or online at Amazon. 

What Should I Buy For My Hemorrhoids, Anusol of Preparation H?

Since they are both rated the same on Amazon and cost the same, which one should you purchase?

Our Winner is Preparation H cream! With four active ingredients vs just one for Anusol–HC, Preparation H has likely got you covered.

Just to make sure though, be sure to pair Preparation H with a Witch Hazel wipe like Tucks and a powerful Oral Astringent like HemRid.

If you use all three, take a sitz bath here and there and drink lots of water, your condition should improve within 7 days significantly. 

Our hemorrhoid relief guide can help you get rid of your pain and suffering during your bowel movement.

Note that these products contain hydrocortisone which may affect pregnant or breastfeeding women. So, if you're in any of such condition, it's best to avoid these meds. Similarly, you're advised to keep your prescription drugs out of the reach of children.

Remember to pair your Preparation H with Tucks and HemRid for the best results! However, it's noteworthy that drug interactions – changes in drug efficiency due to the repeated use of another medication – can be dangerous if done wrongly. 

In addition, this isn't medical advice, so you may have to see to your doctor or pharmacist for approval before using any of these medications. Similarly, you should consult them if there are no improvements after a week.