Scheriproct is an ointment and suppository for haemorrhoids and anal irritation, combining a steroid with a local anaesthetic. The steroid reduces swelling and itching; the anaesthetic numbs the pain. It is for short courses, not ongoing use, and it treats the symptoms rather than the cause.
What is Scheriproct?
The South African Medicine Price Registry lists Scheriproct as Schedule 4 in two forms:
| Form | Contains |
|---|---|
| Ointment | Prednisolone caproate 1.9 mg/g + cinchocaine hydrochloride 5 mg/g |
| Suppository | Prednisolone caproate 1.3 mg + cinchocaine hydrochloride 1 mg |
Two ingredients doing two different jobs.
Prednisolone caproate is a corticosteroid. It reduces inflammation, swelling and itching in the tissue it is applied to. Most of the misery of a haemorrhoid flare is inflammation, and the steroid is what settles it.
Cinchocaine is a local anaesthetic, related to lidocaine. It blocks nerve signals in the skin and lining it touches, numbing the pain and itch. It works within minutes, which is why relief feels immediate — but that relief is temporary and wears off, while the steroid works more slowly and lasts.
Ointment or suppository depends on where the problem is. External haemorrhoids, anal fissures and skin irritation around the anus respond to the ointment, applied to the outside. Internal haemorrhoids, higher up, are better reached by a suppository. Many packs include an applicator so the ointment can be used internally as well. Ask the pharmacist which applies to you — using the wrong one is a common reason it seems not to work.
It is Schedule 4 — prescription only — because of the steroid. Weaker preparations such as Anusol and Preparation H are available without prescription, and are often enough for a mild flare.
A steroid used on this skin cannot be used indefinitely. Prolonged use thins the skin around the anus, which is delicate to begin with, and thinned skin tears and bleeds more easily. Courses are typically limited to about a week, or as directed. This is the single most important thing to know about the product.
What is Scheriproct commonly used for?
- Haemorrhoids (piles), internal and external — the main use. It relieves the itching, swelling, soreness and discomfort of a flare.
- Anal fissures, small tears in the lining, where it eases the pain that makes passing stool dreaded.
- Proctitis, inflammation of the anal and lower rectal lining.
- Anal itching (pruritus ani), where inflammation is the cause.
- Discomfort after anal surgery or childbirth, on medical advice.
- Inflammation from an anal fistula or abscess, alongside treatment of the cause.
It relieves symptoms; it does not fix the underlying problem. Haemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels, usually caused by straining, constipation, prolonged sitting, pregnancy or heavy lifting. Unless those change, the flare comes back.
The measures that actually prevent recurrence:
- Treat the constipation. More fibre, more water, and a stool softener or bulk-forming laxative if needed. This does more than any ointment.
- Do not strain, and do not sit on the toilet for long. Reading on the toilet is a genuine contributor.
- Go when you need to, rather than delaying.
- Warm sitz baths — sitting in a few centimetres of warm water for ten minutes — relieve spasm and soothe, and cost nothing.
- Stay active, and avoid long unbroken sitting.
How Scheriproct fits into this medicine category
| Group | Examples | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Steroid + anaesthetic | Scheriproct, Proctosedyl | Prescription; short courses |
| Astringent preparations | Anusol, Preparation H | Over the counter; milder |
| Local anaesthetic alone | Lidocaine gel | Numbs; no anti-inflammatory effect |
| Topical steroids | Clomaderm | For skin elsewhere; not for anal use unless directed |
| Antifungals | Canex V | Fungal infection, which can mimic anal itch |
| Stool softeners | Lactulose, ispaghula | Treat the cause |
That last row matters more than the rest. The ointment settles the flare; the laxative prevents the next one.
See the skin and wound care medicines hub.
What to check before using Scheriproct
Do not use it if there might be an infection. Steroids suppress local immunity, so applying one to an untreated fungal, bacterial or viral infection allows it to spread. Anal itching is often fungal, and treating it with a steroid makes it worse after brief improvement.
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:
- Have or suspect an infection in the area — thrush, herpes, an abscess, or a discharging fistula.
- Have tuberculosis affecting the skin.
- Are allergic to local anaesthetics — cinchocaine, lidocaine or related.
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding. Haemorrhoids are very common in pregnancy, but the medicine should be chosen with your doctor.
- Are using it for a child.
- Have diabetes or a weakened immune system.
- Have inflammatory bowel disease.
Practical points:
- Use it for the short course prescribed, typically about a week. Do not continue it because it helps.
- Apply after passing stool and washing gently, and at bedtime.
- Wash your hands before and after.
- Use the applicator if internal use is intended.
- Do not share it, and do not reuse an old tube for a new problem without advice.
- Keep suppositories cool so they stay firm.
- Do not use a leftover tube on a different area of skin.
Possible cautions and when to ask a pharmacist or doctor
Common effects are mild: local burning, stinging, itching or dryness, usually brief on application.
With prolonged use, the steroid can cause thinning of the skin, stretch marks, increased fragility and, occasionally, absorption sufficient to affect the body generally. This is why the course is short.
Seek medical advice promptly for:
- Increasing pain, swelling, redness, heat or discharge — suggesting infection.
- A rash spreading beyond the treated area.
- A hard, exquisitely painful lump at the anus, which may be a thrombosed haemorrhoid and can be treated more effectively within the first day or two.
- Fever with anal pain, which may indicate an abscess and needs same-day assessment.
Get emergency help for heavy bleeding, severe pain with fever, or swelling of the face, lips or tongue with difficulty breathing.
See a doctor rather than continuing to self-treat if:
- Bleeding continues, is heavy, or is mixed into the stool rather than on the paper or the surface.
- Symptoms do not settle within a week, or return as soon as the course ends.
- You have unexplained weight loss, a persistent change in bowel habit, or anaemia.
- You are over 45 with new rectal bleeding.
- There is family history of bowel cancer or inflammatory bowel disease.
- You have mucus discharge, a lump that will not reduce, or incontinence.
This last group deserves emphasis. Rectal bleeding is usually haemorrhoids, and usually nothing worse. But bowel cancer can present exactly the same way, and treating the symptom with an ointment is precisely how the diagnosis gets delayed. Bleeding that is new, persistent, or in anyone over 45 should be examined, not managed indefinitely from a tube.
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Frequently asked questions
What is Scheriproct ointment used for? Haemorrhoids, anal fissures, proctitis and anal itching. It combines a steroid to reduce inflammation with a local anaesthetic to numb pain.
What is the difference between the ointment and the suppository? The ointment is for external problems and the area around the anus; the suppository reaches internal haemorrhoids higher up. Some packs include an applicator for internal use of the ointment.
How long can I use it? Short courses, typically about a week. Prolonged steroid use thins the delicate skin around the anus.
Why does the relief wear off? The local anaesthetic numbs within minutes but is short-acting. The steroid works more slowly and lasts longer.
Can I buy it without a prescription? No — it is Schedule 4 because of the steroid. Anusol and Preparation H are available over the counter and are often enough for a mild flare.
Will it cure my haemorrhoids? No. It settles the flare. Preventing the next one means treating constipation, not straining, and not sitting on the toilet for long.
I still have bleeding. Should I keep using it? No. Bleeding that continues, is heavy, or is mixed into the stool needs examining — particularly if you are over 45 or have other bowel symptoms.
Can I use it in pregnancy? Haemorrhoids are common in pregnancy, but ask your doctor which treatment to use.