A suppository is a

dosage form Dosage forms (also called unit doses) are pharmaceutical drug products presented in a specific form for use. They contain a mixture of active ingredients and inactive components ( excipients), configured in a particular way (such as a capsule she ...

used to deliver

medications Medication (also called medicament, medicine, pharmaceutical drug, medicinal product, medicinal drug or simply drug) is a drug used to medical diagnosis, diagnose, cure, treat, or preventive medicine, prevent disease. Drug therapy (pharmaco ...

by insertion into a

body orifice A body orifice is any opening in the body of an animal. External In a typical mammalian body such as the human body, the external body orifices are: * The nostrils, for breathing and the associated sense of smell * The mouth, for eating, drinki ...

(any opening in the body), where it dissolves or melts to exert local or systemic effects. There are three types of suppositories, each to insert into a different sections: rectal suppositories into the

rectum The rectum (: rectums or recta) is the final straight portion of the large intestine in humans and some other mammals, and the gut in others. Before expulsion through the anus or cloaca, the rectum stores the feces temporarily. The adult ...

, vaginal suppositories into the

vagina In mammals and other animals, the vagina (: vaginas or vaginae) is the elastic, muscular sex organ, reproductive organ of the female genital tract. In humans, it extends from the vulval vestibule to the cervix (neck of the uterus). The #Vag ...

, and urethral suppositories into the urethra of a male. Suppositories are ideal for infants, elderly individuals and post-operative patients, who are unable to swallow oral medications, and for individuals experiencing severe nausea and/or vomiting. Suppositories are administered through rectal route to reduce onset time of reaction.

Composition

Several different ingredients can be used to form the base of a suppository:

cocoa butter Cocoa butter, also called theobroma oil, is a pale-yellow, edible Vegetable oil, fat extracted from the cocoa bean (''Theobroma cacao''). It is used to make chocolate, as well as some ointments, toiletries, and pharmaceuticals. Cocoa butter h ...

or a similar substitute,

polyethylene glycol Polyethylene glycol (PEG; ) is a polyether compound derived from petroleum with many applications, from industrial manufacturing to medicine. PEG is also known as polyethylene oxide (PEO) or polyoxyethylene (POE), depending on its molecular wei ...

hydrogels A hydrogel is a biphasic material, a mixture of porous and permeable solids and at least 10% of water or other interstitial fluid. The solid phase is a water insoluble three dimensional network of polymers, having absorbed a large amount of ...

, and glycerinated

gelatin Gelatin or gelatine () is a translucent, colorless, flavorless food ingredient, commonly derived from collagen taken from animal body parts. It is brittle when dry and rubbery when moist. It may also be referred to as hydrolyzed collagen, coll ...

. The type of material used depends on the type of suppository, the type of drug, and the conditions in which the suppository will be stored.

Rectal suppositories

In 1991, a study on suppository insertion in ''

The Lancet ''The Lancet'' is a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal, founded in England in 1823. It is one of the world's highest-impact academic journals and also one of the oldest medical journals still in publication. The journal publishes ...

'' found that the "torpedo" shape helps the device to travel internally, increasing its efficacy. The findings of this single study have been challenged as there is insufficient evidence on which to base clinical practice. Rectal suppositories are intended for localized or systemic action to relieve pain, constipation, irritation, inflammation, nausea and vomiting, fever, migraines, allergies, and sedation. If they cause inflammation, chronic use of suppositories may cause

rectal stricture A rectal stricture (rectal stenosis) is a chronic and abnormal narrowing or constriction of the lumen of the rectum which presents a partial or complete obstruction to the movement of bowel contents. A rectal stricture is located deeper inside th ...

,Ahmad, A; Krishnamurthy, P (June 2021).
Benign Rectal Strictures: A Review Article
. ''Practical Gastroenterology.'' 45 (6): 16-33. but overall this is a safe method of drug delivery. Panadol suppositories

Urethral suppositories

Alprostadil pellets are urethral suppositories used for the treatment of severe erectile dysfunction (impotence). They are marketed under the name ''Muse'' in the United States. Its use has diminished since the development of oral impotence medications.

Notes

References

* Doyle, D.
"Per Rectum: A History of Enemata"
''Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh'', Vol.35, No.4, (December 2005), pp. 367–370. * Payer, L.
"Borderline Cases: How Medical Practice Reflects National Culture"
''The Sciences'', Vol.30, No.4, (July–August 1990), pp. 38–42. {{Authority control Anus Constipation Dosage forms Drug delivery devices Drugs acting on the gastrointestinal system and metabolism Laxatives Rectum Routes of administration

Composition

Rectal suppositories

Urethral suppositories

See also

Notes

References