Learn the various advantages and disadvantages of the suppositories dosage form.
Medications are effective only when they reach their site of action, so different dosage forms, as well as different routes of drug administration, are used to deliver the drug to the body. Dosage forms are pharmaceutical products that are particular mixtures of drug and excipients; they are needed to deliver an accurate dose to the target tissue, protect the active pharmaceutical ingredient, and mask the taste and odor of the drug. Depending on the physical form, dosage forms can classify into solid, semi-solid, liquid, and gaseous forms. Depending on the route of administration, dosage forms can be classified into oral, parenteral, topical, inhalation, and rectal routes of administration.
The suppository is a solid dosage form containing one or more active ingredients and is used to deliver the medication in the body cavities such as the rectum/vagina. It dissolves and melts on-site and produces a local action or systemic absorption of the active ingredients. It may melt at body temperature or dissolved or dispersed on a suitable basis that may be soluble or dispersible in water.
There are two types of suppository base lipophilic and hydrophilic suppository. Lipophilic suppositories are fat and wax-based which can be melted according to the human body. The hydrophilic suppository is glycerin-based and requires liquid for dissolution.
Advantages of suppositories dosage form:
- The major advantage of the suppository dosage form is that the drug is rapidly absorbed through the mucous membranes by delivers directly into body cavities.
- It is a convenient route of administration for drugs that cause vomiting, irritate the GIT, and drugs that are destroyed at the acidic pH of the stomach.
- The suppositories dosage form is useful when oral therapy is restricted or oral administration is not possible.
- It is suitable for unconscious patients, uncooperative patients, and patients suffering from severe vomiting.
- It provides rapid onset of action as compared to the oral route because the absorption of the drug through rectal mucosa directly reaches blood (avoids the first-pass metabolism).
- Prolonged drug action can be achieved using suppositories dosage form.
- It does not have systemic side effects compared to other dosage forms.
- Total bioavailability can be achieved compared to oral dosage forms.
- Compared to the parenteral drug administration it does not have pain or a site of action-related issues.
- It does not need to be swallowed like tablets, capsules, caplets and powders, emulsions, suspensions, syrups, mixtures, drops, linctus, and allergens that cause vomiting or irritation.
- The rectal route of administration offers a much more constant atmosphere for the drug to be absorbed than the oral route.
- No issue of drugs with unpleasant taste and odor, since they do not need to be swallowing.
Disadvantages of suppositories dosage form:
- The major disadvantage of the suppository dosage form is that most patients feel uncomfortable taking the drug through the body cavity, so it is not used as broadly as oral dosage forms.
- Children and elderly patients hesitate to take medication and have difficulty taking self-medication.
- Some types of suppositories require special storage conditions such as refrigerators to prevent the base from being liquefied.
- The suppository manufacturing process is difficult compared with oral solid dosage forms.
- Suppositories are not suitable as a dosage form for drugs that irritate the mucous membrane.
- Diseases such as diarrhea can affect the absorption of drugs.
Commonly asked questions on dosage forms are as follows.
What are the types of suppositories?
The classification of suppositories is rectal suppositories, vaginal suppositories (pessaries), urethral suppositories (bougies), nasal suppositories, ear suppositories.
What are the advantages of suppositories over tablets dosage form?
The major advantages of suppositories over a tablet are provided topical and systemic effects, improved medication bioavailability, reduced the first-pass metabolism, and accommodates patients who have difficulty swallowing pills.
How many types of capsules are there?
Hard gelatin capsules and soft gelatin capsules are the two types of capsules available which are depending on the physical state of the medication to be filled. They come in a numeral of sizes and shapes, and they can contain one or more active ingredients.
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