OK, back in April my CRS prescribed me diltiazem 2% cream, also called Anoheal Cream, to be applied in and around the anus. It has to be kept in the fridge, and other than the inconvenience of applying it in the kitchen, it has been really good.
I'm meant to keep using it until I see the consultant again, but it was running low (and has now ran out) so I contacted my GP for some more. I now have diltiazem 2% ointment (diltiazem in white parafin) which doesn't have to be kept in the fridge, but expires in less than a month, and is only to be used externally. (When I left the GP, I didn't realise he had given me something different, and it took the pharmacist a week to get this delivered.)
I've been using it a couple of days, and have noticed that after an hour of applying it, I need to wipe/wash it off as it makes my backside ever so itchy. I am going back to the doc on Friday but since thought I'd enquire here first. Have any of you had this type of reaction?
I just want to know what advice you have, for when I speak to the doc, as I do feel that he hasn't got a clue, and I need to tell him what I want/need, rather than let him make the decision. :roll:

I've only had the Anoheal that has to be kept in the fridge, and if I use it for more than 2 days at a time it itches absolutely unbearably. Have you tried Rectogesic? I find it gives me a crashing headache - but it doesn't itch, and it seems more potent than diltiazem.

Yeah, the rectogesic gave me awful headaches too, which is why I'm now on diltiazem. Hmmmm...
Maybe if I only apply the parafin before a BM, rather than morning/evening as I have been?

Hi Bernie, I did develop an itch after using the diltiazem a few weeks. Mine didn't have to be refrigerated and I think it did have the parafin. I tried not to use it too much before having my LIS. I think applying it before a bm would be a good idea.

Hi Bernie, I was also prescribed the parafin based Diltiazem with a very short shelf life (1 month) it didn't work for me so I then got Anoheal which caused a really bad itching reaction, I literally scratched until I bled, some people have a reaction to it and others heal successfully from using it.

Hi all
I'm new to the forum - see my intro in new members section.
Basically, I've had similar reactions to non-refrigerated, paraffin based diltiazem - terrible itching. One issue I'm still unclear on is - where this stuff is meant to go. My doc is vague (just a general guy) - one UK website by colo-rectal specialist says 'around, but not in anus', another (by St Marks, who made Anoheal cream) says on anal verge/or inside.
I the problem is that either way, it tends to leak downwards (gravity) and itch on outer parts.
Personally, I tried Rectogesic but found horrible headaches, slight nausea worse than the itching at the other end. So I'm persisting with Dilt!

Hi fizz, I was told to massage a pea-sized amount of Diltiazem around the anus by my CRS, it didn't do anything for me other than drive me crazy with the itch, I then tried only applying inside the anal canal and that worked better and no itching, since then I've tried the same way with Anoheal with similar results.