Nifedipine–lidocaine for treating chronic anal fissure

Nifedipine-lidocaine has been clinically developed for the treatment of chronic anal fissure. An anal fissure is a tear or open sore (ulcer) that develops in the lining of the large intestine, near the anus. Many fissures heal by themselves, or certain medicines can be prescribed to treat them. However, sometimes a fissure does not heal and becomes a long-term (chronic) problem. In these cases, an injection or surgery may be prescribed. These treatments may lead to complications such as weakening of the anal sphincter muscles and bowel incontinence (difficulty controlling the bowel). There is a need for effective treatments with limited side effects for chronic anal fissure.