A suppository is a solid medication designed for insertion into a body cavity, typically the rectum, vagina, or urethra. This delivery method is often used when a person cannot swallow oral medication or when the drug would be poorly absorbed in the digestive tract. The suppository base melts or dissolves at body temperature, releasing the active drug. Applying a lubricant is highly recommended to ensure smooth and comfortable administration.
Why Lubrication is Essential
Lubrication reduces friction during insertion, minimizing pain and discomfort, which is particularly important for sensitive mucosal tissues. A well-lubricated suppository helps prevent minor tissue irritation or small abrasions, often called micro-tears, which can occur with dry insertion. Preventing these tears reduces the risk of local irritation or infection. Lubrication also maximizes effectiveness by ensuring the suppository can be inserted deep enough to be retained.
For rectal suppositories, the medication must be pushed past the muscular sphincter (about one inch in adults) to prevent the body from immediately expelling it. Adequate lubrication facilitates this deeper placement, allowing the suppository base to melt and the medication to be properly absorbed. Without lubrication, the suppository is more likely to be retained shallowly, risking premature expulsion and a failed dose.
Selecting the Right Lubricant
Choosing the correct type of lubricant is crucial because the wrong product can interfere with the suppository’s effectiveness or even damage the medication itself. The safest and most widely recommended choice is a water-based lubricating gel, which provides slickness without reacting chemically with the medication base. Water-based lubricants ensure a smooth glide and do not affect the suppository’s dissolution rate.
Suppositories are made with either a fat-soluble base, like cocoa butter, or a water-soluble base. Using an oil-based lubricant, such as petroleum jelly, is discouraged because it can interact with and prematurely soften or dissolve fat-soluble suppository bases. Furthermore, oil-based products may create a barrier that prevents the suppository from melting at all once inserted, hindering the release and absorption of the active drug.
Common household products like lotions, creams, or saliva should be avoided entirely, as they are not formulated for internal use and can introduce irritants or bacteria to the insertion site. Always check the suppository’s packaging instructions, but if no specific recommendation is given, a small amount of a sterile, water-based lubricant is the safest option.
Step-by-Step Insertion Technique
Proper preparation involves washing your hands thoroughly and unwrapping the suppository. If the suppository feels soft, it should be chilled for a few minutes in the refrigerator or under cold water while still in the wrapper to help it maintain its shape during insertion. Before inserting, apply a small amount of water-based lubricant to the suppository’s tip.
For rectal insertion, finding a comfortable position is helpful, such as lying on your side with the bottom leg straight and the top leg bent toward your stomach. Alternatively, you can stand with one foot raised on a chair. The suppository should then be inserted into the rectum.
Using your finger, the suppository needs to be gently but firmly pushed past the internal anal sphincter to ensure it is retained. For an adult, this usually means inserting it about one inch deep. After the suppository is placed, remain lying down or still for at least five to fifteen minutes to allow the suppository to melt and the medication to begin absorbing. This retention time prevents the medication from being expelled before it has had a chance to work.