Suppository Drug Administration Quiz

Packaging and Storage of Suppositories

• Suppositories are packaged in tightly closed glass containers to prevent changes in moisture content.
• Cocoa butter-based suppositories are individually wrapped or separated in compartmented boxes to prevent contact and adhesion.
• Light-sensitive suppositories are wrapped in opaque materials like metallic foil.
• Most commercial suppositories are individually wrapped in foil or plastic.
• Some suppositories are packaged in a continuous strip, separated by perforations.

Storage Conditions

• Suppositories should be stored in a cool place to prevent heat-induced damage.
• Cocoa butter suppositories should be stored below 30°C (86°F), preferably in a refrigerator (2°C to 8°C or 36°F to 46°F).
• Glycerinated gelatin suppositories can be stored at controlled room temperature (20°C to 25°C or 68°F to 77°F).
• Polyethylene glycol-based suppositories can be stored at usual room temperatures.

Quality Control Tests

• Appearance
• Content uniformity
• Fragility test (Breaking test, Hardness test)
• Melting range test
• Disintegration test
• Drug release test

Types of Suppositories

• Vaginal suppositories are used as treatments for various conditions.
• Urethral suppositories contain antibacterial or local anesthetic preparations for urethral examination.
• Rectal suppositories are used for systemic absorption of drugs, especially for treating nausea, migraine, and other conditions.

Advantages of Suppositories

• Suitable for drugs destroyed by pH or enzymatic activity of the GIT.
• Suitable for drugs irritating to the stomach.
• Suitable for patients who suffer from vomiting.

Disadvantages of Suppositories

• Uncomfortable to use
• Variation of absorption pattern and unpredicted bioavailability
• Slow and erratic absorption or loss of suppository due to defecation
• Pathology (hemorrhoids, fissures) may lead to irritation and expulsion

Physiological Factors Influencing Drug Absorption

• The human rectum is approximately 15 to 20 cm long.
• The rectum contains only 2 to 3 mL of inert mucous fluid when empty of fecal material.

General Information About Suppositories

• Suppositories are solid dosage forms intended for insertion into body orifices.
• They melt, soften, or dissolve and exert local or systemic effects.
• They have various shapes and weights, depending on the type and purpose.
• Rectal suppositories are usually 1.5 inches long and weigh 2 g for adults or 1 g for infants.
• Vaginal suppositories are usually globular, oviform, or cone-shaped and weigh around 5 g.
• Urethral suppositories are pencil-shaped.