Suppositories

Question 1

Solid dosage form used for RECTAL, VAGINAL, or URETHRAL administration

Answer 1

Suppository

Question 2

pH of rectal cavity

Answer 2

7.2-7.4

Question 3

T or F: The rectal cavity has good buffering capacity.

Answer 3

F

Question 4

Absorption of suppository meds through the inferior and middle rectal veins are preferred over the superior rectal vein. Why?

Answer 4

They avoid the portal vein and liver, and thus they don’t undergo first pass metabolism

Question 5

T or F: For suppositories, the drug must be soluble in the suppository base.

Answer 5

F

We want the drug to interact as little w/ the base as possible > this increases the chances of absorption in rectum

Question 6

Another name for urethral suppositories.

Answer 6

Bougies

Question 7

Another name for vaginal suppositories.

Answer 7

Pessaries

Question 8

What kind of base would you use if the drug was water-soluble?

Answer 8

Fatty base

Question 9

What kind of base would you use if the drug was lipophilic?

Answer 9

Water-soluble base

Question 10

What additives would you add to improve suppository viscosity?

Answer 10

1. Stearyl-, myristyl-, and cetyl alcohols
2. Al-monostearate, glyceryl monostearate
3. Bentonite, colloidal silica

Question 11

What additive would you add to increase hydrophilicity?

Answer 11

surfactants

Question 12

Are ionic or non-ionic surfactants preferred in suppositories?

Answer 12

Non-ionic surfactants

They’re less irritating.

Question 13

What additive would you add to modify mp?

Answer 13

1. FAs
2. Fatty alcohols
3. waxes

Question 14

What additive would you add to protect suppositories against degradation?

Answer 14

1. Antimicrobials (e.g. parabens)
2. Antioxidants (e.g. Ascorbic acid)
3. Antifungals