Is RectiCare or Preparation H better?
Medically reviewed by Dr. Robert William, MD · Written by Kevin Schwaner · Updated July 2026
Quick Answer
They solve different problems. RectiCare is a 5% lidocaine cream built to numb pain, the strongest OTC anesthetic concentration. Preparation H’s flagship uses phenylephrine to reduce swelling but does not numb. For pain, RectiCare wins; for swelling, Preparation H wins. Note that Preparation H also sells its own 5% lidocaine cream, which turns that matchup into a price decision.
The two flagships use different molecules for different jobs. RectiCare’s lidocaine 5% blocks pain signals within 5 to 10 minutes but does nothing to swelling. Preparation H’s phenylephrine constricts vessels to reduce swelling over days but does not numb. So your dominant symptom decides the winner: pain points to RectiCare, swelling to Preparation H.
The nuance is that Preparation H also sells a Maximum Strength lidocaine cream at the same 5% concentration, usually cheaper than RectiCare, which makes that matchup a price-and-availability decision rather than a strength one. A third option, HemRid Lidocaine Cream, delivers the same 5% with a 120-day guarantee. Whichever you pick, it manages symptoms only; recurrence needs the internal layer.
120-day money-back guarantee · Made in an FDA-registered US facility
Sources
- FDA OTC monograph: anorectal drug products
- ASCRS Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Hemorrhoids
Related Questions
What is the strongest OTC hemorrhoid treatment? →Does Preparation H work? →What is the best hemorrhoid cream? →*Informational only, not a substitute for professional medical advice. Any rectal bleeding should be evaluated by a doctor. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA.