Rectal Suppositories

Administration:

Do not cut in half. Most pts prefer admin suppositories themselves. Ask, unless they are physically unable to do so. Don gloves. Patient placed in left Sims position. Lubricate the rounded end of the suppository with a water-soluble lubricant before insertion. Instruct the patient to take slow, deep breaths through the mouth and to try to relax the anal sphincter. Doing this minimizes the discomfort of the insertion. Insert the medication by placing it past the internal anal sphincter and against the rectal mucosa. If the suppository is inserted improperly, the patient might expel it before the medication can dissolve and be absorbed. Have the patient remain in a supine position for approximately 5 minutes afterward to ensure absorption of the medication.

Contraindicated in:

Patients in cardiac patient(arrhythmias, etc) and in patients w/ recent rectal surgery or bleeding

Pediatric and older adult considerations

Pediatric patients are often given rectal medications to reduce fever, to relieve nausea and vomiting, to provide analgesia, and sometimes to relieve constipation. Because children might have a difficult time keeping the suppository in place, hold the child's buttocks together gently 5 to 10 minutes to keep the suppository in place. Older adult patients might also have difficulty keeping the suppository in place due to a loss of sphincter control. In this situation, you might also have to hold the buttocks together gently so that the medication can dissolve and be absorbed. Teach patients who are inserting suppositories themselves about infection-control techniques for avoiding contact with and spreading fecal material.

Storage:

Refrigerated to keep from melting. They should be refrigerated until immediate before admin. as they will melt as a result of body temp.

Uses:

lubricate for constipation to induce defecation. Also used for relief of nausea/vomiting and reducing fever.