What Is a Suppository? 8 Things to Know About This Underhyped, Rectal Dosage Form

When you think of taking medication, your mind may default to an oral capsule or tablet. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), loratadine (Claritin), and multivitamins, tend to dominate pharmacy aisles in these convenient-to-take forms. Prescription medications often come as oral pills, too.

However, there are also other ways to take a medication. Suppositories are one option that are particularly useful in certain situations. People may shy away from choosing a suppository for their needs because of potential discomfort and how they’re administered. But they’re often quite effective.

If you’ve never used a suppository before, you too might find them intimidating. But learning what they are, how they work, and how to administer them might just make suppositories much more approachable. Here, we’ll give answers to eight questions you might have about this dosage form.

1. What is a suppository?

Suppositories are a medication dosage form. They’re placed or inserted into the rectum, vagina, or urethra. Rectal suppositories are the most common version, and they aren’t exactly new. People have placed medications into the rectum for hundreds of years.

Suppositories are one possible solution for people who are unable to swallow medications. This could be due to swallowing problems or symptoms such as intense nausea. And if you or a loved one have a gastrointestinal condition, such as ulcerative colitis, suppositories may be a familiar part of your medication routine.

What’s more, suppositories come in many shapes:

• A torpedo-shaped bullet

• Round or oval

• Expanded oval

• Teardrop or cone-like

This article focuses on rectal suppositories.

Is a suppository an enema?

Not exactly. The main difference between an enema and a suppository is that an enema is a liquid. A suppository is typically a solid. Suppositories were made as an alternative to enemas because they’re generally more convenient to use.

2. What are some examples of suppositories?

Several medications are available as rectal suppositories. Some require a prescription, while others are available OTC. Top examples include:

• Prochlorperazine (Compro): Prochlorperazine suppositories are used to treat nausea and vomiting. They contain 25 mg of prochlorperazine.

• Promethazine (Promethegan): Promethazine is used for nausea prevention, motion sickness, and more. These suppositories are usually a bullet-shaped product that contain 12.5 mg, 25 mg, or 50 mg of promethazine.

• Acetaminophen (FeverAll): Acetaminophen, commonly known as Tylenol, helps reduce pain and fever. Acetaminophen suppositories are often useful for kids who are too young to swallow medications. Dosages range from 80 mg to 650 mg per suppository.

• Hydrocortisone (Anusol-HC, Proctocort): This anti-inflammatory, anti-hemorrhoid suppository usually comes as a cylindrical rod. One end is more narrow than the other. It comes in 25 mg and 30 mg dosages.

• Phenylephrine (Preparation H): This anti-hemorrhoid suppository generally contains 0.25% of medication. It comes as a bullet-shaped suppository.

• Bisacodyl (Dulcolax): Bisacodyl is a suppository that relieves occasional constipation. It usually comes as a bullet-shaped suppository that contains 10 mg of medication.

• Glycerin (Fleet, Pedia-Lax): Glycerin suppositories are also used for occasional constipation. They’re especially common for kids. Glycerin suppositories, such as Fleet, are solid, but Pedia-Lax is a liquid suppository.

3. How do suppositories work?

Suppositories, like other medications, contain a mix of active and inactive ingredients. An active ingredient is the substance that’s responsible for addressing the problem you’re experiencing. For example, the active ingredient in Preparation H is phenylephrine.

Inactive ingredients are included to turn the medication into a stable, working product. In suppositories, inactive ingredients help the body soak up the medication and make the insertion process smoother. Examples of inactive ingredients for suppositories include cocoa butter, polysorbate 80, and polyethylene glycol.

Once a suppository is inserted into your rectum, your body’s internal temperature causes it to melt. This process releases the active ingredient from the suppository so small blood vessels in your rectum can absorb it. From there, the medication can travel through your bloodstream to other areas of your body. This is how suppositories treat conditions such as fever and nausea. But some suppositories have more local effects and treat issues such as constipation or hemorrhoids.

4. What conditions can suppositories treat?

Suppositories treat a variety of health conditions. They often serve as fast-acting sources of relief. These are a few reasons why people turn to suppositories:

• Hemorrhoids

• Constipation

• Pain and fever

• Inflammation or irritation

• Nausea and vomiting

• Migraine

• Ulcerative colitis

5. How do you insert a suppository?

Inserting a suppository doesn’t have to be uncomfortable or confusing. You can insert it yourself or have a loved one do it for you. Follow these 10 steps to insert a rectal suppository:

1. Try to have a bowel movement before inserting the medication (except when treating constipation).

2. Wash your hands with soap and warm water. Put on a latex or nitrile glove, if desired.

3. Remove clothing from the waist down.

4. Remove the wrapper from the suppository.

5. Place a lubricating gel on the end of the suppository for smoother insertion. If you don’t have a lubricant, you can moisten your rectum with water instead.

6. Lie on your left side with your knees bent. Your right knee should be slightly higher than your left. Alternatively, you can lie on your right side and raise your left knee higher.

7. Insert the suppository into your rectum — narrow end first.

8. Push the suppository into your rectum about 1 inch. Your specific product should have a recommended distance to aim for. Small kids and infants will likely have shorter distances.

9. Lie in this position for at least 5 minutes. This helps your body absorb the medication. Your specific product’s packaging may tell you to rest for a different amount of time, so make sure to defer to these directions.

10. Throw away any gloves you used and wash your hands again.

If you have any questions about how to insert a rectal suppository, reach out to your pharmacist or healthcare provider. They can walk you through the process.

Good to know: It’s important to check your suppository’s packaging to see if you should store them in the refrigerator or at room temperature. It’s also important to avoid exposing them to heat or warm temperatures. This could cause them to melt and release the active ingredient prematurely. This would make them harder to administer and prevent you from getting a full dose of medication. 

6. When should you not use a suppository?

In general, suppositories should be used with special caution in infants and people with certain health conditions, including:

• Active diarrhea

• Ruptured hemorrhoids

• Rectal infections

• Rectal or anal trauma

What’s more, every medication has its own criteria about who should and shouldn’t use it. For example, phenylephrine suppositories shouldn’t be used by people with uncontrolled blood pressure or heart disease. And promethazine suppositories shouldn’t be prescribed to anyone younger than 2 years old.

It’s important to tell your healthcare provider about your full medical history so that they can decide if a suppository is right for you.

7. What are some side effects of rectal suppositories?

Rectal suppository side effects often include rectal pain and irritation. But these are usually related to the administration process, not necessarily the medications themselves.

Each medication has its own list of side effects to consider. Examples include:

• Prochlorperazine: Drowsiness, dizziness and menstrual changes

• Promethazine: Drowsiness, dizziness, and blurry vision

• Hydrocortisone: Itchiness, dryness, and burning

• Bisacodyl: Stomach discomfort, cramping, and feeling faint

Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a complete list of side effects for the suppository you’re taking.

8. What common issues do people experience with suppositories?

Some common issues are preventable and related to administration technique. Others are less avoidable.

Rectal medications can cause problems such as leakage, retention, and discomfort. Leakage occurs when ingredients from the suppository drip out of the rectum after melting. Retention problems arise when a suppository is expelled from the rectum. Lying down for the recommended period of time after inserting a suppository can minimize the odds of leakage and poor retention.

A less avoidable problem that can occur with rectal suppositories is irregular drug absorption. Certain health conditions — such as anal fissures (tears), gut infections, and inflammation — can affect how much medication is absorbed from your suppository. Large amounts of stool can also be a roadblock. Emptying your bowels (pooping) before inserting a suppository can help increase drug absorption.

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Written by:

Hannah Elmore, PharmD Candidate

Hannah Elmore, a PharmD candidate, works as a clinical pharmacy intern with IU Health in Indianapolis. She has previously worked in community pharmacy locations, including CVS and Costco Wholesalers, with a total of 4 years of patient-centered pharmacy experience.

Edited by:

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS

Joshua Murdock, PharmD, BCBBS, is a licensed pharmacist in Arizona, Colorado, and Rhode Island. He has worked in the pharmacy industry for more than 10 years and currently serves as a pharmacy editor for GoodRx.

Reviewed by:

Christina Aungst, PharmD

Christina Aungst, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She began writing for GoodRx Health in 2019, transitioning from freelance writer to editor in 2021.

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