Anucort-HC Shortage Update: What Patients Need to Know in 2026

If you've had trouble filling your Anucort-HC prescription in 2026, you're not imagining things — and you're not alone. While Anucort-HC is not currently listed as a nationally declared shortage, many patients across the country are encountering real availability challenges at their local pharmacies. This article breaks down the current situation, what's driving it, and what you can do about it.

Current Shortage Status for Anucort-HC in 2026

As of 2026, Anucort-HC (hydrocortisone acetate 25 mg rectal suppository) is not listed on the FDA Drug Shortage Database or the ASHP Drug Shortage list as a nationally declared shortage drug. This is an important distinction: an official shortage is declared when a manufacturer cannot meet nationwide demand — typically due to a manufacturing problem, ingredient supply failure, or regulatory action.

What patients are experiencing is more accurately described as localized stocking gaps: situations where individual pharmacies simply don't have Anucort-HC in stock at a given time, even though it is technically available in the supply chain. These gaps can feel identical to a shortage from the patient's perspective but are often resolved by calling a different pharmacy.

Why Are Patients Having Trouble Finding Anucort-HC?

Several factors contribute to Anucort-HC availability challenges in 2026:

Low stocking volume. Anucort-HC is a specialty brand-name suppository. Most retail pharmacies stock it in small quantities — or not at all — because demand is relatively limited compared to high-volume oral medications.

Single-source brand manufacturing. Anucort-HC is distributed exclusively by Cosette Pharmaceuticals, Inc. of South Plainfield, NJ. Unlike a multi-manufacturer generic, any production or distribution slowdown at Cosette directly affects the brand's availability.

Distributor variability. Pharmaceutical distributors like McKesson, Cardinal Health, and AmerisourceBergen may occasionally have regional supply gaps that delay shipments to pharmacies in certain areas.

Insurance step therapy barriers. Some insurance plans require patients to try a cheaper or generic alternative first before approving coverage for the brand-name Anucort-HC. While this is a coverage issue rather than a supply issue, it creates delays that feel similar to a shortage.

Historical Availability of Hydrocortisone Acetate Suppositories

Hydrocortisone acetate rectal suppositories (as a class) have experienced periodic availability challenges in the past several years. These have typically been resolved relatively quickly as manufacturers increase production and distributors restock. The broader class of rectal corticosteroid products has remained available through generics and alternative brands even when specific brand names were temporarily out of stock.

What Should Patients Do Right Now?

Don't panic — it's likely available nearby. If your regular pharmacy doesn't have it, try others. Calling ahead or using a pharmacy locator service is usually enough to resolve the problem.

Ask about the generic. Generic hydrocortisone acetate 25 mg rectal suppositories are bioequivalent to Anucort-HC and typically easier to find. Ask your pharmacist or prescriber about substituting the generic.

Discuss alternatives with your doctor. If Anucort-HC is unavailable and you can't find a generic equivalent nearby, your doctor can prescribe an alternative brand (Anusol-HC, Proctosol-HC) or, depending on your condition, a different drug class such as mesalamine suppositories for ulcerative proctitis.

Use medfinder to locate it near you. medfinder contacts pharmacies near you to find which ones can fill your Anucort-HC prescription — saving you the time of calling each pharmacy yourself.

Will the Situation Improve?

Since Anucort-HC's availability challenges are primarily logistical rather than a true manufacturing shortage, improvements tend to come as pharmacies restock and distributors clear their backlogs. Patients who require this medication on a recurring basis may want to:

Request 90-day supplies when clinically appropriate, to reduce the frequency of resupply runs

Establish a relationship with a pharmacy that reliably stocks Anucort-HC or its generic

Ask their pharmacy to flag Anucort-HC for automatic reorder when their supply runs low

For a complete list of alternatives if you cannot fill your prescription, see our guide on alternatives to Anucort-HC.