The outer box and package insert. of over-the-counter drug for hemorrhoids show the ingredients of the medicine.
Knowing the ingredients and actions will help you to choose a product. Please refer to the following.
Representative ingredients contained in over-the-counter drug for hemorrhoids
The following ingredient classification and actions are examples, and some marketed drugs may have the same ingredient but different action.
In some of the over-the-counter drugs you have, the names of the ingredients are slightly different from those in the table above, and you may think, “Did the words replace each other?" These are usually because the ingredient names have changed, and the ingredients are the same.
There are two types of external medicines for hemorrhoids: a medicine combined with steroid with a relatively strong action to suppress inflammation and a medicine not combined with steroid with a relatively mild action. When you choose a medicine, tell your symptoms and constitution to the pharmacy/drug store staff, and then consult which drug is appropriate.
Steroidal drug
Action
Relieves inflammation with relatively strong effect.
Conditions suitable for use
When the symptoms such as swelling and bleeding are severe, with no purulence.
[Precautions]
If the affected area is suppurative, do not use steroidal drugs (The symptoms may be exacerbated).
Non-steroidal drug
Action
Relieves inflammation with relatively mild effect.
Conditions suitable for use
When the symptoms such as swelling and bleeding are not relatively severe.
[Precautions]
Glycyrrhetinic Acid, which is often used in non-steroidal products, may occasionally cause side effects such as "swelling of the face or limbs " when used long-term carelessly.