Suppository : 
A medicinal substance designed to melt at body temperature within a body cavity other than the mouth, especially the rectum or vagina. It is a semi-solid dosage form.

Advantages of Suppositories : 
􀂄 Self administration
􀂄 Avoidance of oral and parental routes
– Avoid first pass metabolism
– Protect drug from harsh conditions in stomach
– Drug causes nausea and vomiting
– Oral intake restricted before surgery
􀂄 Patient suffering from sever vomiting
􀂄 Can be targeted delivery system
– Localized action reduced systemic distribution
– Rectum vagina & urethra poor blood flow
􀂄 Get to site of action with lower dose

􀂄 Reducing systemic toxicity

Disadvantages of Suppositories :

􀂄 Mucosal irritation
– Eg: indomethacin can cause rashes
􀂄 Patient compliance
􀂄 Erratic and undesired absorption
– Placement too high -> first pass metabolism
– Installation may trigger defecation reaction
􀂄 expel product
􀂄 GI state affects absorption

– Diarrhea & disease states affect absorption
May get absorption when don't want
– e.g. Estrogen creams
􀂄 ⇑ absorbed into circulation ⇑ Side effects
􀂄 High cost of manufacture
– Special formulation
– Special packaging
􀂄 Lack of comparative data
– Not well researched area
– Company avoid financial risk
􀂄 Can melt at ambient temperatures

– e.g., Baltimore in the summer