Our Pick: Calmol 4
Check price on Amazon →Calmol 4 Review: The Protectant-Only Hemorrhoid Suppository Without Phenylephrine
Buy the 24 count at $24.12, about $1.01 a suppository. The Drug Facts panel lists cocoa butter and zinc oxide, both protectants, no vasoconstrictor, and allows up to 6 per day for adults. That makes Calmol 4 the suppository for anyone the phenylephrine list on Preparation H sends to a doctor. The 3-pack is a cent or two cheaper per unit; the cocoa butter titled listing is the same product at a higher price. Prices verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026.
By The Pharmacy Desk2026-09-05~10 min read Ranked on verified label facts, never box claimsHow we research
Buy Calmol 4 Hemorrhoidal Suppositories, 24 count, at $24.12 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026), about $1.01 per suppository ($24.12 divided by 24). It is the hemorrhoidal suppository whose Drug Facts panel lists only protectants, cocoa butter and zinc oxide, with no vasoconstrictor, and whose directions allow adults up to 6 per day or one after each bowel movement. If you use them regularly, the 24 count 3-pack at $71.11 is about 99 cents each ($71.11 divided by 72), a small saving. The listing titled with cocoa butter and zinc oxide is the same 24 count at $26.63, about $1.11 each; buy whichever is cheaper on the day.
Calmol 4 matters because of what is not on its panel. Preparation H suppositories pair cocoa butter with phenylephrine HCl, a vasoconstrictor, and phenylephrine brings an ask-a-doctor list: heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes, difficulty urinating due to an enlarged prostate, and an ask-a-doctor-or-pharmacist line for anyone on a prescription drug for high blood pressure or depression. That list covers a large share of the adults who buy hemorrhoid products. Calmol 4's panel carries none of it, because zinc oxide and cocoa butter are protectants, not vasoconstrictors. The trade is real too: the panel does not carry the temporarily-shrinks-hemorrhoidal-tissue line, because that line belongs to the vasoconstrictor. We compare it below against Preparation H and against Anusol, the other protectant-style pharmacy name.
This is an over-the-counter drug with a Drug Facts panel, and we quote it rather than improvise around it. Uses on the panel: temporary relief of the itching, burning and discomfort of hemorrhoids, and protection of irritated tissue. Directions: adults, remove the wrapper and insert one suppository rectally up to 6 times daily or after each bowel movement; children under 12, ask a doctor. Stop use and ask a doctor if bleeding occurs, or if the condition worsens or does not improve within 7 days. If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use. We read labels and verify listings; we are not clinicians, nothing here is medical advice, and no brand has paid for a placement. If you buy through a link we may earn an Amazon commission at no cost to you.
The short version
- Our Pick: Calmol 4 Hemorrhoidal Suppositories, 24 count, $24.12 at our September 5, 2026 check, about $1.01 each. Cocoa butter and zinc oxide, both protectants, per the Drug Facts panel.
- No phenylephrine means no heart disease, blood pressure, thyroid, diabetes, or prostate ask-a-doctor list. That is the reason to choose Calmol 4 over Preparation H.
- Directions allow adults up to 6 per day or after each bowel movement; children under 12, ask a doctor. Stop and ask a doctor for bleeding, worsening, or no improvement within 7 days.
- The 3-pack at $71.11 is about 99 cents each, a small saving for regular buyers; the cocoa butter titled listing is the same 24 count at $26.63, so compare prices on the day.
- Preparation H at about 75 cents is cheaper and adds a vasoconstrictor; Anusol at about $1.08 does not publish its actives. Calmol 4 is the protectant-only suppository you can read the panel for before ordering.
At a glance
| Product | Actives (per label) | Count | Cost per use | Label directions | Price (9/5/26) | Check price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Calmol 4 Suppositories, 24 ct | Cocoa butter, zinc oxide | 24 | $1.01 | Up to 6 daily or after each bowel movement; under 12 ask a doctor | $24.12 | Check price on Amazon |
| Calmol 4 with Cocoa Butter and Zinc Oxide, 24 ct | Cocoa butter, zinc oxide | 24 | $1.11 | Same panel | $26.63 | Check price on Amazon |
| Calmol 4, 24 ct, pack of 3 | Cocoa butter, zinc oxide | 72 | $0.99 | Same panel | $71.11 | Check price on Amazon |
| Preparation H Suppositories, 12 ct x 2 | Cocoa butter, phenylephrine HCl | 24 | $0.75 | Up to 4 daily; under 12 ask a doctor | $17.96 | Check price on Amazon |
| Anusol Suppositories, 12 | Not published on listing | 12 | $1.08 | Per the panel on the box | $12.90 | Check price on Amazon |
The three Calmol 4 listings and two benchmarks. Actives are as stated on the Drug Facts panel or the listing title; where neither states them we say not published. Prices verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026. Cost per use computed only where the listing states both price and count.
Calmol 4 Hemorrhoidal Suppositories, 24 count
Calmol 4
Cocoa butter and zinc oxide, no vasoconstrictor, up to 6 per day on the label, about $1.01 each.
Our verdict: The protectant-only suppository, and the cheapest of the three Calmol 4 listings on a single-carton basis. Twenty-four wrapped suppositories at about $1.01 each, a panel with no drug-interaction list, and a daily cap of 6 rather than 4. Buy it first if phenylephrine is off the table for you.
Verified: Labeled actives per the Drug Facts panel: cocoa butter (protectant) and zinc oxide (protectant). Listing count: 24. Directions: adults up to 6 times daily or after each bowel movement; children under 12 ask a doctor. Live at $24.12 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
What it is. Calmol 4 Hemorrhoidal Suppositories, 24 count is a carton of twenty-four individually wrapped rectal suppositories. The Drug Facts panel lists two active ingredients, cocoa butter and zinc oxide, both labeled as protectants; the listing title for the sister SKU describes the pairing as astringent protectant relief, which is how zinc oxide is generally characterized. Cocoa butter is the body of the suppository and melts at body temperature; zinc oxide is the mineral that gives the melted coating its astringent character. There is no vasoconstrictor and no anesthetic on the panel.
What the label directs. Adults: when practical, cleanse the affected area with mild soap and warm water and rinse thoroughly, gently dry by patting or blotting, remove the wrapper, and insert one suppository rectally up to 6 times daily or after each bowel movement. Children under 12: ask a doctor. Six per day is the highest daily cap on this shelf; Preparation H's panel says up to 4. For technique, see how to use a rectal suppository.
What the label says to watch. Stop use and ask a doctor if bleeding occurs, or if the condition worsens or does not improve within 7 days. If pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use. For rectal use only. Keep out of reach of children. Owners consistently report two practical things: the cocoa butter base softens in a warm bathroom or in summer shipping, and the wrapper opens more cleanly when the suppository is firm; how to store suppositories covers keeping the carton cool. For the field, see the best hemorrhoid suppositories.
Who should buy it
Buy the 24 count if you want a protectant-only hemorrhoidal suppository, if any of the phenylephrine ask-a-doctor conditions apply to you, or if you take a prescription drug for high blood pressure or depression and would rather avoid the question altogether.
What we don't like
About $1.01 each against Preparation H's 75 cents, a Tier B brand with thinner pharmacy distribution, and this listing's title does not restate the actives (the sister listing does). The cocoa butter base softens in heat.
- Active ingredients
- Cocoa butter (protectant), zinc oxide (protectant), per the Drug Facts panel
- Strength
- Percentages not printed on the listing title; see the Drug Facts panel
- Count
- 24
- Form
- Rectal suppository, individually wrapped, cocoa butter base
- Label directions
- Adults up to 6 times daily or after each bowel movement; under 12 ask a doctor
- Cost per use
- $1.01 ($24.12 divided by 24)
- Packaging
- Carton of 24
What we like
- No phenylephrine, no drug-interaction list
- Up to 6 per day on the label
- Actives readable before ordering
- Individually wrapped
Worth noting
- About $1.01 each
- Tier B brand, thinner distribution
- No vasoconstrictor use on the panel
Calmol 4 Hemorrhoidal Suppositories with Cocoa Butter and Zinc Oxide, 24 count
Calmol 4
The listing whose title prints the actives; same 24 count, about $1.11 each on the day.
Our verdict: The same 24 count carton under a listing whose title prints the actives and the astringent protectant description. At $26.63 it is about $1.11 each ($26.63 divided by 24), a dime more than the plain listing. Buy whichever of the two is cheaper when you order; the panel is the same.
Verified: Listing title: Calmol 4 Hemorrhoidal Suppositories with Cocoa Butter and Zinc Oxide, Astringent Protectant Relief, 24 Ct. Live at $26.63 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
Same product, different listing. Calmol 4 with Cocoa Butter and Zinc Oxide, 24 count is the listing whose title does the work of the Drug Facts panel: cocoa butter and zinc oxide, astringent protectant relief, 24 count. At $26.63 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026) it is about $1.11 per suppository ($26.63 divided by 24), against about $1.01 on the plain listing the same day.
Who should buy it
Buy this listing if it is the cheaper of the two on the day, or if you want the actives stated in the listing title for your own records.
What we don't like
About a dime more per suppository than the plain listing at our check, for the same carton.
- Active ingredients
- Cocoa butter (protectant), zinc oxide (protectant), stated on the listing title and the Drug Facts panel
- Strength
- Percentages not printed on the listing title; see the Drug Facts panel
- Count
- 24
- Form
- Rectal suppository, individually wrapped, cocoa butter base
- Label directions
- Adults up to 6 times daily or after each bowel movement; under 12 ask a doctor
- Cost per use
- $1.11 ($26.63 divided by 24)
- Packaging
- Carton of 24
What we like
- Title prints the actives
- Identical panel to the plain listing
Worth noting
- Higher price on the day for the same carton
Calmol 4 Hemorrhoidal Suppositories, 24 count, pack of 3
Calmol 4
Three cartons, 72 suppositories, about 99 cents each; a small saving for a household that reorders.
Our verdict: Three cartons for $71.11 is about 99 cents a suppository ($71.11 divided by 72), two cents under the single carton. It is the right buy only for a household that has already settled on Calmol 4 and reorders; for a first purchase, one carton is the sensible size, and the label's 7 day stop line is the reminder why.
Verified: Listing: Calmol 4 Hemorrhoidal Suppositories 24 Each (Pack of 3). Same Drug Facts panel as the single carton. Live at $71.11 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
Three cartons, same panel. The Calmol 4, 24 count, pack of 3 bundles three of the single carton. At $71.11 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026) that is about 99 cents per suppository ($71.11 divided by 72). The saving over a single carton is two cents a unit, so the bundle is about convenience, not economics.
Who should buy it
Buy the 3-pack if two or more adults in the house use Calmol 4 and you reorder anyway, and the printed date gives you room to use all three cartons.
What we don't like
A two cent saving per unit for a large upfront spend, and seventy-two suppositories is far more than the label's 7 day stop line expects one person to use.
- Active ingredients
- Cocoa butter (protectant), zinc oxide (protectant), per the Drug Facts panel
- Strength
- Percentages not printed on the listing title; see the Drug Facts panel
- Count
- 72 (24 per carton, pack of 3)
- Form
- Rectal suppository, individually wrapped, cocoa butter base
- Label directions
- Adults up to 6 times daily or after each bowel movement; under 12 ask a doctor
- Cost per use
- $0.99 ($71.11 divided by 72)
- Packaging
- Three cartons of 24
What we like
- Lowest per-unit price in the Calmol 4 line
- Same panel and wrapping as the single carton
Worth noting
- Only two cents saved per suppository
- Far more than one occasional user needs
Preparation H Hemorrhoid Suppositories, 12 count, pack of 2
Preparation H
Cocoa butter plus phenylephrine on the panel, up to 4 daily, about 75 cents each.
Our verdict: The reference suppository and the cheaper one, at about 75 cents each ($17.96 divided by 24). Its panel adds phenylephrine and the temporarily-shrinks line, and with them an ask-a-doctor list Calmol 4 does not carry. If none of that list applies to you, this is the lower-cost buy.
Verified: Labeled actives per the Drug Facts panel: cocoa butter (protectant) and phenylephrine HCl (vasoconstrictor). Listing count: 12 per box, pack of 2. Directions: adults up to 4 times daily; under 12 ask a doctor. Live at $17.96 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
Why it is here. Preparation H Hemorrhoid Suppositories, 12 count, pack of 2 is the suppository everyone compares Calmol 4 against. The Drug Facts panel lists cocoa butter as a protectant and phenylephrine HCl as a vasoconstrictor; the uses add temporary shrinking of hemorrhoidal tissue. Directions: adults up to 4 times daily; children under 12, ask a doctor. At $17.96 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026) it is about 75 cents each ($17.96 divided by 24), a quarter less than Calmol 4.
Who should buy it
Buy Preparation H instead of Calmol 4 if none of the phenylephrine ask-a-doctor conditions apply to you and you want the lower price and the vasoconstrictor.
What we don't like
The phenylephrine ask-a-doctor list, a lower daily cap of 4, and a listing title that does not print the percentages.
- Active ingredients
- Cocoa butter (protectant), phenylephrine HCl (vasoconstrictor), per the Drug Facts panel
- Strength
- Percentages not printed on the listing title; see the Drug Facts panel
- Count
- 24 (12 per box, pack of 2)
- Form
- Rectal suppository, foil wrapped, cocoa butter base
- Label directions
- Adults up to 4 times daily; under 12 ask a doctor
- Cost per use
- $0.75 ($17.96 divided by 24)
- Packaging
- Foil strips in two cartons
What we like
- About 75 cents each
- Vasoconstrictor on the panel
- Tier A pharmacy brand, everywhere
Worth noting
- Long phenylephrine ask-a-doctor list
- Up to 4 daily, not 6
Anusol Suppositories, 12 per pack
Anusol
The pharmacy name for a protectant-style suppository, about $1.08 each, actives read off the box.
Our verdict: Anusol is the name people reach for when they want a protectant-style suppository, and at $12.90 for 12 it is about $1.08 each ($12.90 divided by 12), a bit more than Calmol 4. The listing does not publish the actives and Anusol has sold more than one formula, which is exactly the gap Calmol 4 fills: a protectant-only panel you can read before you order.
Verified: Listing: Anusol Suppositories, 12 per pack. Count stated; actives not published on the listing (read the Drug Facts panel on the box). Live at $12.90 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.
Why it is here. Anusol Suppositories, 12 per pack is the other pharmacy name on this shelf. At $12.90 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026) it is about $1.08 per suppository ($12.90 divided by 12). The listing title states the count and does not state the actives; Anusol has sold protectant-only suppository formulas, and the panel on the box that arrives is the source. Every hemorrhoidal panel carries the same 7 day stop line and the under 12 ask-a-doctor line.
Who should buy it
Buy Anusol instead of Calmol 4 if you want the more familiar pharmacy name and are comfortable reading the actives off the box before use.
What we don't like
Actives not published on the listing, about $1.08 each, and a second Anusol 12 count listing at $24.82 that is easy to buy by mistake.
- Active ingredients
- Not published on the listing; read the Drug Facts panel on the box
- Strength
- Not published
- Count
- 12
- Form
- Rectal suppository, individually wrapped
- Label directions
- Per the Drug Facts panel on the box; under 12 ask a doctor on this class of label
- Cost per use
- $1.08 ($12.90 divided by 12)
- Packaging
- Carton of 12
What we like
- Familiar pharmacy name
- Wrapped units
Worth noting
- Actives not published on the listing
- Slightly more per unit than Calmol 4
What you'll need
The six things that go in the same cart as a suppository: the pharmacy-standard glycerin, a daily stool softener, an enema for the nights nothing else works, witch hazel wipes, sitz salts, and a barrier ointment. Prices are approximate at time of writing.
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- Calmol 4 Hemorrhoidal Suppositories, 24 countBest OverallCalmol 4 · $24.12Check price on Amazon
- Calmol 4 Hemorrhoidal Suppositories with Cocoa Butter and Zinc Oxide, 24 countSame Carton, Clearer TitleCalmol 4 · $26.63Check price on Amazon
- Calmol 4 Hemorrhoidal Suppositories, 24 count, pack of 3Best for Regular BuyersCalmol 4 · $71.11Check price on Amazon
- Preparation H Hemorrhoid Suppositories, 12 count, pack of 2Benchmark: With a VasoconstrictorPreparation H · $17.96Check price on Amazon
- Anusol Suppositories, 12 per packBenchmark: The Other Protectant NameAnusol · $12.90Check price on Amazon
How we chose
This review is built on the Drug Facts panel and the live listing. For every SKU we recorded the active ingredients and their labeled purpose where the panel or the listing title states them, the count, the form, the label's directions and age line, and the Amazon price on September 5, 2026 via the Creators API. Cost per use is shown only where the listing title gives both a price and a count, with the division shown. Owner reports were weighed for consistency on the things a label cannot tell you: whether the wrapper opens cleanly, whether the suppositories arrive soft in summer, and whether the three listings are in fact the same carton.
Compliance for this shelf: we quote the label's Uses and Directions and nothing beyond them. Hemorrhoidal suppositories are for rectal use only and for the number of daily applications the panel states, which for Calmol 4 is up to 6 for adults. The stop line is the same on every box: stop use and ask a doctor if bleeding occurs, if the condition worsens, or if it does not improve within 7 days. Children under 12, ask a doctor. Pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use. We are a research and verification desk, not a pharmacy or a clinic, and nothing on this page is medical advice. No brand paid for a placement and none saw this review before publication.
Questions, answered
What are the active ingredients in Calmol 4?
The Drug Facts panel lists cocoa butter and zinc oxide, both labeled as protectants; the listing title for the sister SKU describes the pair as astringent protectant relief. There is no phenylephrine, no lidocaine and no hydrocortisone on the panel. The percentages are printed on the box, not on the listing title.
How often can you use Calmol 4 suppositories?
The label directs adults to insert one suppository rectally up to 6 times daily or after each bowel movement. Children under 12: ask a doctor. That is a higher daily cap than the Preparation H suppository label, which says up to 4.
Is Calmol 4 the same as Preparation H?
No. Both use a cocoa butter base, but Preparation H's panel adds phenylephrine HCl, a vasoconstrictor, with a use line for temporarily shrinking hemorrhoidal tissue and an ask-a-doctor list for heart disease, high blood pressure, thyroid disease, diabetes and an enlarged prostate. Calmol 4's panel is cocoa butter and zinc oxide only, with none of that list. The full comparison is at Preparation H vs Calmol 4.
Can I use Calmol 4 if I have high blood pressure?
Calmol 4's panel does not carry the phenylephrine ask-a-doctor list, because it contains no vasoconstrictor; that list is on Preparation H's panel. We are not clinicians and the panel on your box is the authority; if you are on any prescription, the pharmacist is the right person to ask.
How long can you use Calmol 4?
The label says to stop use and ask a doctor if the condition worsens or does not improve within 7 days, or if bleeding occurs. Use beyond 7 days is a conversation with a doctor, not a reason to buy the 3-pack.
Which Calmol 4 listing is cheapest?
At our September 5, 2026 check the plain 24 count was $24.12 (about $1.01 each), the cocoa butter and zinc oxide titled 24 count was $26.63 (about $1.11 each), and the 3-pack was $71.11 (about 99 cents each). The first two are the same carton; buy whichever is cheaper on the day.
Can Calmol 4 be used during pregnancy?
The label says if pregnant or breast-feeding, ask a health professional before use, and we do not go beyond that. Our pregnancy and postpartum guide ranks the products whose labels are written for that situation.
What if the suppository arrives soft?
The cocoa butter base softens in a warm bathroom or in summer shipping. Chill the wrapped suppository briefly before opening so it holds its shape and the wrapper tears cleanly, and do not use one that has lost its shape. Our storage guide covers it.
Filed under Review
Keep reading
Preparation H vs Calmol 4
Vasoconstrictor versus protectant-only, the same label table on both sides, and a verdict per buyer.
Best Hemorrhoid Suppositories (2026)
The suppository shelf ranked on the Drug Facts panel and cost per use.
Preparation H Suppositories Review
The phenylephrine suppository, box by box, with the ask-a-doctor list spelled out.
How to Store Suppositories
Keeping a cocoa butter base firm, and what to do when a carton arrives soft.