Pros & Cons of Suppository Bases Flashcards
Theobroma Oil
Advantages
E - Easily liquidfied, sets quickly when cooled, allowing ease of production
P - Pleasant Effects, soothing & emollient properties, making it preferred for anorectal diseases & haemorrhoids
N - Non-irritating to the rectum which increase patient comfortability, potentially improving compliance
Disadvantages
P - Exhibits polymorphism with the beta form being the most stable, leading to instability
M - Moulding challenges where the base might shrink upon cooling, resulting in sticking to the mold, requiring lubricant
D - Drug interaction where soluble drugs could lower melting point of the base. However it can be fixed with beeswax
S - Storage challenges where in hotter climates, the base might melt causing degradation of product and instability issues
O - can undergo oxidation which leads to instability issues, requiring antioxidant
B- Batch to batch variation of the base, depending on the quality of theobroma oil
Glycerin
Advantages
P - Prolonged action in the rectum, preferred for vaginal
Disadvantages
R - Rectally irritating, can irritate the rectum as it is more preferred for vaginal
O - Osmotic effect, drawing water into the lumen of GI, which might cause a laxative effect
H - Hygroscopic base, which can absorb moisture, leading to instability issues during storage
M - Microbial Risk due to it being a water soluble base
V - Variable dissolution rate depends on quality, which can affect drug release consistency
Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) / Macrogol
Advantages
N - No physiological effect, minimal interaction with body functions
L - Less risk of microbial contamination risk compared with glycerin base
R - Reduced leakage as PEG forms a viscous liquid, reducing leakage of dose from the body after administration
Disadvantages
B - Prone to brittleness, can become brittle if cooled too rapidly
C - Crystal growth, drugs in the PEG base can form crystals that could cause patient discomfort
D - Drug and packaging incompatibility, some drugs like benzocaine are not compatible with PEG and some packaging like plastic are not compatible as well
H - Hygroscopic, absorbs moisture, which could lead to instability and storage challenges
