Suppositories are a dosage form of medication and are designed to be inserted into body cavities. In medical terminology, suppositories are also known as suppositories.
What are suppositories
Body cavities commonly used for suppository insertion include the rectum and vagina. Body cavities that are commonly used to insert suppositories include the rectum and vagina. Only in rare cases are suppositories also inserted into the urethra. The shapes of different suppositories depend, among other things, on the part of the body where the suppositories are used. For example, if suppositories are to be inserted into the vagina, their shape is adapted accordingly. These suppositories are also called vaginal suppositories or vaginal ovoules. The sizes of suppositories used in children are also usually reduced compared to those used in adults.
Application and use
In medicine, suppositories are used, for example, in patients who are unable to take medication in tablet form. This is the case, for example, with people who are not conscious or with people who have impaired swallowing function. Also, administering medication by suppository in medicine can also circumvent the fact that various orally taken medications (for example, in the form of tablets or juices) can lose effectiveness when passing through the liver. The advantages of suppositories administered rectally (i.e. via the rectum) also lie in their frequent depot effect. Suppositories can also be used to administer drugs that are not tolerated by the stomach. Furthermore, suppositories can be used for targeted local application, as is often the case in the treatment of hemorrhoids, for example. Rectally inserted suppositories are also frequently used for diseases associated with vomiting. The active ingredients are absorbed very quickly through the intestinal mucosa. Painkillers are also occasionally administered via rectal suppositories for migraine headaches. In gynecology, suppositories are administered for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and also as a form of contraception, among other uses.
Herbal, natural and pharmaceutical suppositories.
In the case of suppositories based on pharmaceutical-chemical principles of action, a distinction can be made, for example, between a fat-containing and a water-soluble form of preparation of the suppositories. The more familiar suppository form is that based on a fat-containing preparation. Hard fat used for corresponding suppositories often has a melting range adapted to human body temperature. The main component of the hard fats used is the so-called lauric acid. Common ingredients of vaginal suppositories at the pharmaceutical-chemical active ingredient level are gelatin and glycerol. Naturopathy also makes use of suppositories for various diseases. For example, anti-inflammatory or pain-relieving preparations such as glucocorticoids (including cortisone) are administered via suppositories. Various suppositories contain purely herbal active ingredients instead of synthetic or pharmaceutical-chemical active ingredients. Appropriate suppositories can be used, for example, to achieve a sedative effect. The suppository is also used in homeopathy as a form of drug administration. For example, corresponding preparations for the treatment of hemorrhoidal problems are available in pharmacies. Different suppositories have different potencies. The ingredients of these suppositories are, for example, witch hazel leaves and extracts of horse chestnut bark. Before using suppositories on homeopathic or pharmaceutical chemical, it is advisable to consult with the attending physician.
Risks and side effects
Potential health risks may arise from both the active ingredients and the additives contained in suppositories. For example, some suppositories contain lactose, so these preparations are not suitable for people with lactose intolerance. There may also be risks associated with using homeopathic suppositories on one’s own; if the active ingredients are taken in too high a concentration, for example, this may lead to intolerance or even damage to health.Possible side effects of the active ingredients contained in suppositories are similar to the potential side effects that the respective active ingredients also entail in other dosage forms. Particularly when suppositories are used in babies or young children, care should be taken to insert the suppositories gently so as not to cause injury to the mucous membranes of the respective body cavity.