Comprehensive medication guide to Anucort-HC including estimated pricing, availability information, side effects, and how to find it in stock at your local pharmacy.
Estimated Insurance Pricing
$0–$15 copay for generic hydrocortisone acetate suppository on most plans (Tier 1); Anucort-HC brand is typically Tier 2–3; some plans have step therapy requirements before covering the brand.
Estimated Cash Pricing
$200–$264 retail for the Anucort-HC brand; as low as $31.90 with a GoodRx coupon for the brand, or $19.12 for the generic (hydrocortisone acetate 25 mg suppository) for a 12-suppository supply.
Medfinder Findability Score
68/100
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Anucort-HC is the brand name for hydrocortisone acetate 25 mg rectal suppositories, manufactured and distributed by Cosette Pharmaceuticals, Inc. It is a prescription-only topical corticosteroid delivered directly to the rectum via a suppository that melts at body temperature.
Anucort-HC is prescribed for inflamed internal hemorrhoids, proctitis (including post-irradiation proctitis), as an adjunct treatment for chronic ulcerative colitis of the rectum, cryptitis, and pruritus ani. It works by reducing inflammation directly in the rectal tissue, providing relief from pain, itching, swelling, and rectal bleeding associated with these conditions.
Each suppository contains 25 mg of hydrocortisone acetate in a hydrogenated vegetable oil base. Approximately 26% of the active ingredient is absorbed systemically when applied rectally. The drug acts primarily through anti-inflammatory, anti-pruritic, and vasoconstrictive mechanisms in the rectal mucosa.
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Anucort-HC delivers hydrocortisone acetate — a synthetic corticosteroid — directly to inflamed rectal tissue. Hydrocortisone acetate binds to glucocorticoid receptors inside rectal mucosal cells. This activates anti-inflammatory genes while suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, prostaglandins, and histamines that cause pain, swelling, and itching.
The drug works through three primary mechanisms: anti-inflammatory (suppresses inflammatory cytokine production), anti-pruritic (reduces itch-generating chemical signals), and vasoconstrictive (narrows capillaries to reduce redness and swelling). Together these actions relieve the discomfort of inflamed hemorrhoids and proctitis within days of starting treatment.
The suppository formulation melts at body temperature, releasing the drug directly into the rectal tissue. This targeted delivery provides higher local drug concentrations than oral steroids while minimizing systemic exposure. Symptoms such as itching and pain often begin to improve within 3-7 days of initiating treatment.
25 mg — rectal suppository
Standard dose for internal hemorrhoids and proctitis; inserted rectally 2-3 times daily as prescribed
Anucort-HC is not currently listed as a nationally declared shortage by the FDA or ASHP as of 2026. However, patients frequently report difficulty filling this prescription because it is a lower-volume brand-name specialty product that many retail pharmacies do not stock routinely. Localized stocking gaps are common, particularly at chain pharmacies and in rural areas.
The generic equivalent — hydrocortisone acetate 25 mg rectal suppository — is more widely available and is bioequivalent to the brand. Patients who cannot find the Anucort-HC brand should ask their prescriber about switching to the generic, which is available at more pharmacies and at significantly lower cost. Independent pharmacies and hospital outpatient pharmacies are often better sources than chain pharmacies for this drug.
If you are having trouble finding Anucort-HC near you, medfinder contacts pharmacies on your behalf to locate which ones have your medication in stock. Submit your medication and location and receive results by text — no hold music required.
Anucort-HC is not a controlled substance and does not require any DEA authorization to prescribe. Any licensed prescriber in the United States can write a prescription for Anucort-HC. The prescribing information recommends that treatment be initiated only after an adequate proctologic examination has been performed.
Common prescribers include:
Gastroenterologists (for IBD-related proctitis and ulcerative colitis)
Colorectal surgeons and proctologists (for hemorrhoids and anorectal conditions)
Primary care physicians (for routine hemorrhoid management)
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants (prescribing authority in all 50 states for non-controlled medications)
Radiation oncologists (for post-irradiation proctitis following cancer treatment)
Anucort-HC is available through telehealth platforms for patients with established diagnoses of hemorrhoids, proctitis, or ulcerative colitis. Because it is not a controlled substance, there are no federal telehealth prescribing restrictions. General primary care telehealth platforms (Teladoc, MDLive, Ro) and GI-focused telehealth services can prescribe Anucort-HC via e-prescription.
No. Anucort-HC (hydrocortisone acetate rectal suppository) is not a controlled substance and is not scheduled by the DEA. There are no special prescribing requirements, no limits on the number of refills, and no restrictions based on DEA scheduling.
Any licensed prescriber in the United States — including primary care physicians, gastroenterologists, colorectal surgeons, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants — can prescribe Anucort-HC without special DEA authorization. Telehealth prescribing is available without the additional restrictions that apply to controlled substances.
While not a controlled substance, Anucort-HC is a prescription-only medication. The prescribing information recommends that a proctologic examination be performed before initiating treatment to ensure the drug is appropriate for the patient's specific condition.
The following local side effects have been reported with hydrocortisone acetate rectal suppositories:
Burning and itching at the site of application
Irritation and dryness
Folliculitis (inflammation of hair follicles in the perianal area)
Staining of clothing or bed linens (from the suppository base)
Hypopigmentation (skin lightening around the anal area with prolonged use)
Allergic contact dermatitis (allergic reaction to hydrocortisone or suppository base)
Secondary infection (bacterial or fungal) due to local immune suppression
HPA axis suppression with prolonged use (systemic corticosteroid effect)
Elevated blood glucose (especially in patients with diabetes)
Discontinue use and contact your doctor if you experience rectal bleeding, signs of systemic steroid effects, or signs of allergic reaction (hives, difficulty breathing, facial swelling).
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Hydrocortisone Acetate 25 mg Suppository (Generic)
Bioequivalent to Anucort-HC; same active ingredient and dose, lower cost and more widely available
Mesalamine (Canasa) Suppository
1 g suppository preferred first-line for ulcerative proctitis per AGA guidelines; significantly higher remission rates than hydrocortisone for IBD-related proctitis
Anusol-HC / Proctosol-HC
Other brand-name hydrocortisone acetate 25 mg suppositories; same active ingredient as Anucort-HC
Cortifoam (Hydrocortisone Acetate Foam)
Rectal foam formulation of hydrocortisone acetate; useful when patients have difficulty retaining suppositories
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NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin)
moderateCombining with hydrocortisone increases risk of GI ulcers and bleeding due to partial systemic absorption
Antidiabetic medications (insulin, metformin, sulfonylureas)
moderateCorticosteroids can raise blood glucose levels; may require dose adjustment of antidiabetic medications
Other corticosteroids (prednisone, dexamethasone, budesonide)
moderateAdditive steroid effect increases risk of HPA axis suppression and systemic corticosteroid side effects
Anticoagulants (warfarin)
moderateCorticosteroids may alter anticoagulant effect; INR monitoring recommended
Immunosuppressants (tacrolimus, cyclosporine, azathioprine)
majorAdditive immune suppression; relevant for IBD patients on biologic or immunomodulator therapy
Live vaccines
moderateCorticosteroids may reduce vaccine efficacy; avoid live vaccines during treatment
Anucort-HC is an effective short-term treatment for inflamed hemorrhoids, proctitis, and related anorectal inflammatory conditions. It delivers hydrocortisone acetate directly to the rectal tissue, providing targeted anti-inflammatory relief with a relatively low risk of serious systemic effects when used as prescribed.
The two main challenges patients face with Anucort-HC in 2026 are availability and cost. On the availability front, the drug is not in a national shortage but is inconsistently stocked at retail pharmacies. The generic equivalent is more widely available and contains the same active ingredient. On the cost front, prescription discount cards like GoodRx can reduce the price dramatically, and switching to the generic is the most cost-effective option.
If you're struggling to find Anucort-HC at a pharmacy near you, medfinder can do the search for you — contacting pharmacies in your area to find which ones can fill your prescription and texting you the results directly. No hold music, no wasted trips.
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