This review will look at Mohnark’s solution for hemorrhoids: a topical cream containing lidocaine at 4% strength.
In this guide, we’ll take a look at the major active ingredients, what we like about the cream, what we don’t like about the cream, and a final verdict. Let’s get down to brass tacks!
Active Ingredients
Lidocaine 4% topical anesthetic cream only contains one active ingredient: lidocaine. Mohnark Pharmaceuticals did not include ingredients that could help shrink the inflamed veins ( a vasoconstrictor such as phenylephrine HCL) or form a barrier to keep the skin isolated from irritants such as fecal matter (protectant such as glycerin).
The only active ingredient is an anesthetic called lidocaine at 4% strength.
If you are looking for a cream that merely acts as a numbing agent to mitigate the pain associated with hemorrhoids, then this cream may work just fine. However, the cream on its own does not suffice as the complete treatment regimen for hemorrhoids.
Lidocaine on its own is highly effective at treating piles around the anus. Other hemorrhoidal medications that use lidocaine include AneCream and Reticare.
How Does Lidocaine Help with Hemorrhoids
The primary idea behind lidocaine is that it prevents pain due to hemorrhoids and anal fissures. The compound belongs to a class of medicines called anesthetics. It prevents pain by blocking pain receptors at nerve endings. Lidocaine does this without causing unconsciousness.
Doctors have used the compound to induce loss of feeling in the skin, usually to prevent and treat pain from various procedures. Other uses of lidocaine, besides numbing hemorrhoid-related pain, include treating minor burns, insect bites, and scrapes.
What We Didn’t Like: No Protectant or Vasoconstrictor
Treating the symptoms of hemorrhoids requires a multi-faceted approach that targets the condition from various aspects:
- shrinking the inflamed vessels with the help of a vasoconstrictor
- protecting the sensitive and highly vulnerable skin with the help of a protectant
- numbing the pain with local anesthetics
This topical agent hasn’t covered all its bases when treating hemorrhoids. However, if your goal is to merely help numb the pain, you may find the cream to be highly effective. Because while it may not help with the inflammation, it can definitely help with the pain.
We would have given this a glowing review for treating hemorrhoids if it had at least glycerin, a powerful protectant. Glycerin is one of those ingredients that seems to do it all, from moisturizing to exfoliation and even helping with skin tears. Glycerin is ideal for use in dry, cracked skin - which is often found in hemorrhoid users.
Does the Cream Work
It is important to manage your expectations based on the product's ingredient profile. If you want to manage the minor pain due to hemorrhoids, then, by all means, this cream will work for you. It’s all in the name, after all. However, you will be recommended to follow up with other ointments containing glycerin or witch hazel, such as HemRid.
If you are looking for an all-in-one treatment for hemorrhoids, this product is not for you.
How to Use Lidocaine 4% Topical Anesthetic
Application of Lidocaine 4% topical anesthetic is simple to follow.
You can apply the cream three to four times per day. Just make sure to not exceed five grams in a single application. This comes to about four to five inches from the tube.
The exact dosages should be determined by your doctor and is usually based on your age and body weight.
This cream is meant for external use only. Do not use the finger to insert the tube or any part of the tube into the anus as it could further damage the skin.
Apply the cream after passing bowel movements, before going to sleep, and after bed - or as directed by your doctor. This should provide round-the-clock protection from pain until the symptoms of hemorrhoid abate.
Whether you use this cream or not, your symptoms should improve within 2 to 3 weeks. If you notice that your symptoms are not improving or that they seem to be getting worse, then please consult your doctor for further advice. Your doctor will rule out any serious medical conditions that may share similar symptoms with hemorrhoids.
What are the Side Effects?
Lidocaine is not harmful to the body in low dosages. However, there are a few side effects of lidocaine that you should know about:
- Headache
- Numbness and tingling
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Drowsiness
- Dizziness Confusion
- Symptoms of irritation
These side effects are very similar to other numbing agents such as benzocaine. Most users will not experience these symptoms because the compound at low dosages is well-tolerated. However, if you experience any of these symptoms discontinue usage of the product immediately and get in touch with your doctor.
About Mohnark Pharmaceuticals
Mohnark Pharmaceuticals is a well-known business in the United States that has been operating for several years with a good reputation for making OTC creams. Their lineup of anesthetic products effectively deals with pain and numbing the skin around the anal region.
Most online reviews for their products are overwhelmingly positive, with very few outliers who did not report any positive outcomes.
Wrapping Up - Final Verdict
This cream is highly effective at numbing the pain due to hemorrhoids. You can also use it to treat pain in other areas of the body. However, we do not recommend using this cream as an all-in-one solution to hemorrhoids.
This is because you may need to introduce other ointments into your regime containing ingredients such as witch hazel, horse chestnut, and glycerin. Instead, our recommendation is to use a more well-rounded product like HemRid because it contains efficacious dosages of important ingredients that may be more useful for managing hemorrhoids.
