This invention relates to a novel method of treating various inflammation-related anorectal and genitourinary conditions using various related, novel formulations. The formulations comprise, at a minimum, a corticosteroid, an antidepressant agent(s) with anti-allergic and/or anti-itch properties and a cooling/soothing agent(s). Selection of specific ingredients depends on the nature of the target tissues, the etiologies of inflammation and the severity of symptoms. To maximize its efficacy, each of the formulations has a unique combination of several active ingredients, and each of these ingredients exerts its anti-inflammatory effect at various phases of the inflammatory cascade, resulting in a synergistic effect of pain relief and healing. To minimize the side effects, the current multi-active ingredient formulations allow each of these ingredients to exist at a lower concentration than the existing single-active ingredient formulations, thus minimizing the likelihood for side effects due to systemic absorption and toxicity. The formulations are highly versatile in that the composition of the ingredients can be varied and adjusted to treat a wide array of anorectal and genitourinary conditions.
