11.

Suppositories and Inserts

 Contents
1. Suppositories
2. Some factors of drug absorption from
rectal suppositories
3. Suppository bases
4. Preparation of suppositories
5. Rectal suppositories
6. Vaginal suppositories
7. Packaging and storage
8. Vaginal inserts
 1. Suppositories
 Suppositories are solid dosage forms
intended for insertion into body orifices
where they melt, soften, or dissolve and
exert local or systemic effects.
 Suppositories are commonly used rectally
and vaginally and accasionally urethrally.
They have various shapes and weights.
 The shape and size of a suppository must be
such that it can be easily inserted into the
intended orifice without causing undue
distension,
 and once inserted, it must be retained for
the appropriate period.
1 ） Local action
 Rectal suppositories intended for localized
action are most frequently used to relieve
constipation or the pain, irritation, itching,
and inflammation associated with
hemorrhoids or other anorectal conditions.

 A popular laxative, glycerin suppositories

promote laxation by the local irritation of
the mucous membranes.
 Vaginal suppositories or inserts intended for
localized effects are employed mainly as
contraceptives, antiseptics in feminine hygiene,
and as specific agents to combat as invading
pathogen.

 Most commonly, the drugs used are nonoxynol-9

（ 9- 壬苯醇醚） for contraception, and
trichomonacides （杀滴虫剂） to combat
vaginitis caused by Trichomonas vaginalis,
Candida (Monilia) albicans, and other
microorganisms.
2) Systemic action
 For systemic effects, the mucous
membranes of the rectum and vagina
permit the absorption of many soluble
drugs.

 Although the rectum is used frequently as

the site for the systemic absorption of drugs,
the vagina is not as frequently used for this
purpose.
 Among the advantages over oral therapy of the
rectal route of administration for achieving
systemic effects are these:
a) Drugs destroyed or inactivated by the pH or
enzymatic activity of the stomach or intestines
need not be exposed to this destructive
environments;
b) Drugs irritating to the stomach may be giving
without causing such irritation
c) Drugs destroyed by portal circulation may bypass
the liver after rectal absorption
d) The route is convenient for administration of
drugs to adult or pediatric patients who may be
unable or unwilling to swallow medication
e) It is an effective route in the treatment of patients
with vomiting episodes.
 Examples of drugs administered rectally
in the form of suppositories for their
systemic effects include
a) prochlorperazine （丙氯拉嗪） and
chlorpromazine （氯丙嗪）
b) oxymorphone HCl （盐酸羟吗啡酮）
c) ergotamine tartrate （麦角胺酒石酸盐）
d) indomethacin
e) ondansetron
2. Some factors of drug absorption from
rectal suppositories

1) Physiologic factors
 Colonic content

- when deemed desirable, an evacuant enema

may be administered and allowed to act
before the administration of a suppository
of a drug to be absorbed.
- Diarrhea, colonic obstruction, and tissue
dehydration
 Circulation route
- The lower hemorrhoidal veins surrounding
the colon receive the absorbed drug and
initiate its circulation throughout the body,
bypass the liver.

- Lymphatic circulation also assists in the

absorption of rectally administered drugs.
 pH and lack of buffering
- Because rectal fluids are essentially neutral
in pH and have no effective buffer capacity,
the form in which the drug is administered
will not generally be chemically changed by
the rectal environment.

- The suppository base employed has a

marked influence on the release of active
constituents incorporated into it.
2) Physicochemical factors of the drug and
suppository base
 Lipid-water solubility

- A lipophilic drug that is distributed in a

fatty suppository base in low concentration
has less of a tendency to escape to the
surrounding aqueous fluids than would a
hydrophilic substance present in a fatty
base to an extent approaching its
saturation.
- Water soluble bases, for example, PEG,
which dissolve in the anorectal fluids,
release for absorption both water-soluble
and oil-soluble drugs.

- Naturally, the more drug a base contains,

the more drug will be available for potential
absorption.
 Particle size
- For drugs present in a suppository in the
undissolved state, the size of the drug
particle will influence its rate of dissolution
and its availability for absorption.

- The smaller the particle size, the more

readily the dissolution of the particle and
the greater the chance for rapid absorption.
 Nature of the base
- The possiblity of chemical and/or physical
interactions between the medicinal agent
and the suppository base, which could affect
the stability and/or bioavailability of the
drug.
- If the base is irritating to the mucous
membranes of the rectum, it may initiate a
colonic response and prompt a bowel
movement, negating the prospect of
complete drug release and absorption.
 3. Suppository bases
One of the first requisites for a suppository
base is that
 it remains solid at room temperature
 but softens, melts or dissolves readily at
body temperature
 so that the drug it contains may be made
fully available soon after insertion.
Classification of suppository bases
1) Fatty or oleaginous base
 Cocoa butter
- is defined as the fat obtained from the
roasted seed of Theobroma cacao.
- At room temperature it is a yellowish, white
solid having a faint, agreeable chocolate-like
odor.
- Chemically, it is a triglyceride primarily of
oleopalmitostearin （油酸棕榈酸硬脂酸三
甘油酯） and oleodistearin （油酸二硬脂
酸三甘油酯） .
- Cocoa butter melts between 30C to 36C, it
is an ideal suppository base.
- Cocoa butter exhibits marked
polymorphism.
 Hydrogenated fatty acids of vegetable oils
(palm kernal oil and cottonseed oil)
 Fat-based compounds containing
compounds of glycerin with the higher
molecular weight fatty acids, such as
palmitic and stearic acids (glyceryl
monostearate and glyceryl monopalmitate)
2) Water-soluble and water-miscible bases
 Glycerinated gelatin
- Glycerinated gelatin suppositories may be
prepared by dissolving granular gelatin
(20%) in glycerin (70%) and adding a
solution or suspension of the medication
(10%).
- Glycerinated gelatin base is most frequently
used in the preparation of vaginal
suppositories, where the prolonged localized
action of the medicinal agent is usually
desired.
- Glycerinated gelatin-based suppositories
have a tendency to absorb moisture due to
the hygroscopic nature of glycerin.
- The suppository may have a dehydrating
effect and be irritating to the tissues upon
insertion
- Urethral suppositories may be prepared
from a glycerinated gelatin base (60%
gelatin, 20% glycerin and 20% medicated
aqueous portion)
 Polyethylene glycols
- PEGs are polymers of ethylene oxide and water,
prepared to various chain lengths, molecular weights,
and physical states.
- They are available in a number of molecular weight
ranges.
- Various combinations of these PEGs may be
combined by fusion, using two or more of the various
types to achieve a suppository base of the desired
consistency and characteristics.
- PEG suppositories do not melt at body temperature
but rather dissolve slowly in the body’s fluids.
3) Miscellaneous bases
- mixtures of oleaginous and water-soluble or
water-miscible materials,
- These materials may be chemical or physical
mixtures,
- some are preformed emulsions, generally of the
water/oil type,
- or they may be capable of dispersing in aqueous
fluids.
- E.g. polyoxyl 40 stearate （聚氧乙烯 40 硬脂酸
酯）
 Polyoxyl 40 stearate is a mixture of the
monostearate and distearate esters of mixed
polyoxyethylene diols and the free glycols.
 The average polymer length being
equivalent to about 40 oxyethylene units.
 The substance is a waxy, white to light tan
solid that is water-soluble. Its melting point
is generally between 39C and 45C.
 4. Preparation of suppositories
1 ） Preparation by molding
The steps in molding include
 melting the base,
 incorporating any required medicaments,
 pouring the melt into molds,
 allowing the melt to cool and congeal into
suppositories,
 removing the formed suppositories from the
mold.
Suppository molds
 Commercially available molds can produce
individual or large numbers of suppositories
of various shapes and sizes.
 Molds in common use today are made from
stainless steel, aluminum, brass, or plastic.
 Individual plastic molds may be obtained to
form a single suppository.
Lubrication of the mold
 Depending on the formulation, suppository
molds may require lubrication before the
melt is poured to facilatate clean and easy
removal of the molded suppositories.
 Lubrication is seldom necessary when the
suppository base is cocoa butter or
polyethylene glycol.
 Lubrication is usually necessary when
glycerinated gelatin suppositories are
prepared.
Calibration of the mold

 Each individual mold is capable of holding a

specific volume of material in each of its
openings.
 The pharmacist should calibrate each
suppository mold for the usual base so as to
prepare medicated suppositories each
having the proper quantity of medicaments.
- Prepare molded suppositories from base
material alone
- After removal from the mold, the
suppositories are weighted, and the total
weight and the average weight of each
suppository are recorded.
- To determine the volume of the mold, the
suppositories are then carefully melted in a
calibrated beaker, and the volume of the
melt is determined for the total number as
well as the average of one suppository.
Determination of the amount of base required

 Volume of base=Total volume of the mold-

the volume of the drug substances

 If 12 ml of cocoa butter are required to fill a

suppository mold and if the medicaments in
the formula have a collective volume of 2.8
ml, how many gram of cocoa butter required?
(the density of cocoa butter is 0.86 g/mL)
a) Weigh the active ingredient for the
preparation of a single suppository;
b) Dissolve it or mix it with a portion of
melted base insufficient to fill one cavity of
the mold, and add the mixture to a cavity;
c) Add additional melted base to the cavity to
fill it completely
d) Allow the suppository to congeal and
harden
e) Remove the suppository from the mold
and weigh it
Preparing and pouring the melt
 Using the least possible heat, the weighed
suppository base material is melted,
generally over a water bath, since no great
deal of heat is usually required.
 Medicinal substances are usually
incorporated into a portion of the melted
base by mixing on a glass or porcelain tile
with a spatula.
 After incorporation, this material is stirred
into the remaining base, which has been
allowed to cool almost to its congealing
point.
 The melt is poured carefully and
continuously into each cavity of the mold,
which has been previously equilibrated to
room temperature.
 When the suppositories are hard, the mold
is removed from the refrigerator and
allowed to come to room temperature.

 Then the sections of the mold are separated,

and the suppositories are dislodges.
 The solid materials remain suspended if the
pouring is performed just above the conjealing
point and not when the base is too fluid.
 A small quantity of silica gel can be incorporated
into formula to aid in keeping the active drug
suspended.
 In filling each suppository cavity, the pouring
must be continuous to prevent layering, which
may lead to a product easily broken on handling.
 To ensure a completely filled mold upon
congealing, the melt is poured excessively over
each opening, actually using above the level of the
mold.
 Density calculations for suppositories

 Determination of the dosage replacement

factor method
f={100(E-G)/GX}+1
where E=the weight of the pure base
suppositories
G=the weight of suppositories with X% of
the active ingredient
Example 1
Prepare a suppository containing 100 mg of
phenobarbital (f=0.81) using cocoa butter as
the base. The weight of the pure cocoa
butter suppository is 2.0 g. What will be the
total weight of each suppository?
Determination of density factor method
1) Determine the average blank weight, A, per
mold using the suppository base of interest
2) Weigh the quantity of suppository base
necessay for 10 suppositories.
3) Weigh 1.0 g of medication

4) Melt the suppository base and incorporate the

medication, mix, pour into molds, cool, trim,
and remove from the molds
5) Weigh the 10 suppositories and determine the
average weight (C).
6 ） determine the density factor as follows
Density factor = B/(A-C+B)
where
A=average weight of blank
B=weight of medication per suppository
C=average weight of medicated suppository
7) Take the weight of the medication required
for each suppository and divide by the
density factor of the medication to find the
replacement value of the suppository base
8) Subtract this quantity from the blank
suppository weight
9) Multiply by the number of suppositories
required to obtain the quantity of
suppository base required for the
prescription.
10) Multiply the weight of drug per
suppository by the number of suppositories
required to obtain the quantity of active
drug required for the prescription.
 药物的重量与同体积基质重量的比值称为
该药物对基质的置换价
DV=W/G-(M-W)
式中， G- 纯基质平均栓重； M- 含药栓的
平均重量； W- 每个栓剂的平均含药重量
 用测定的置换价可以方便地计算出制备这
种含药栓需要基质的重量 x:
x={G-(y/DV)}.n
y- 处方中药物的剂量； n- 拟制备栓剂的
枚数
Example 2
Prepare 12 acetaminophen 300 mg
suppositories using cocoa butter, where the
average weight of the cocoa butter blank is
2 g and the average weight of the medicated
suppository is 1.8 g.
Determination of occupied volume method
1) Determine the average weight per mold (blank)
using the suppository base of interest
2) Weigh the quantity of suppository base necessary
for 10 suppositories
3) Divide the density of the active drug by the density
of the suppository base to obtain a ratio
4) Divide the total weight of active drug required for
the total number of suppositories by the ratio
obtained in step 3 (this will give the amount of
suppository base displaced by the active drug).
5) Substract the amount obtained in step 4
from the total weight of the prescription to
obtain the weight of suppository base
required
6) Multiply the weight of active drug per
suppository times the number of
suppositories to be prepared to obtain the
quantity of active drug required
Example 3
Prepare 10 suppositories, each containing
200 mg of a drug with a density of 3.0. The
suppository base has a density of 0.9 and a
prepared blank weighs 2.0 g. Using the
“determination of occupied volume
method,” prepare the required
suppositories.
2) Preparation by compression
 Suppositories may be prepared by forcing
the mixed mass of the base and the
medicaments into special molds using
suppository-making machines.
 In preparation of compression into the
molds, the base and the other formulative
ingredients are combined by thorough
mixing, the friction of the process softening
the base into a pastelike consistency.
 Compression is especially suited for making
suppositories that contain heat-labile
medicinal substances or a great deal of
substances that are insoluble in the base.
 In contrast to the molding method,
compression permits no likelihood of
insoluble matter settling during
manufacture.
 The disadvantage to compression is that the
special suppository machine is required and
there is some limitation as to shapes of
suppositories that can be made.
 5. Rectal suppositories
 The rectal route of administration is
especially useful in instances in which the
patient is unwilling or unable to take
medication by mouth.

Local anesthetic suppositories Relieve pruritus ani

hemorrhoids
 astringents
Hemorrhoidal protectives
suppositories anesthetics
lubricants

Cathartic
bisacodyl
suppositories
glycerin
A formula of glycerin suppositories is as follows:
 Glycerin 91g
 Sodium Stearate 9g
 Purified Water 5g
 Glycerin, a hygroscopic material, contributes to
the laxative effect of the suppository by drawing
water from the intestine and also from its irritant
action on the mucous lining.
 The sodium stearate, a soap, is the solidifying
agent in the suppository and may also contribute
to the laxative action.
Information for proper use of suppositories
 If suppositories must be stored in the
refrigerator, they should be allowed to warm
to room temperature before insertion.
 The patient should be advised to rub cocoa
butter suppositories gently with the fingers
to melt the surface to provide lubrication for
insertion.
 Glycerinated gelatin or polyethylene glycol
suppositories should be moistened with water
to enhance lubrication.
 6. Vaginal suppositories
Vaginal suppository are employed principally
 to combat infections occurring in the female
genitourinary area
 to restore the vaginal mucosa to its normal
state
 and for contraception.
 Among the anti-infective agents found in
commercial vaginal preparations are
 Nystatin
 Clotrimazole
 Butoconazole nitrate
 Terconazole
 Miconazole
 Triple sulfas
 Sulfanilamide
 Povidone-iodine
 Clindamycin phosphate
 Metronidazole and oxytetracycline
 Nanoxynol-9, a spermicide, is employed for
vaginal contraception

 Estrogenic substances as dienestrol are

found in vaginal prepareations to restore
the vaginal mucosa to its normal state.
 PEG
Surfactants
Preservative agent

pH4.5
 Rx
Progesterone, micronized powder q.s.
PEG 400 60%
PEG 8000 40%

 The amount of progesterone prescribed per

suppository ranges from 25 to 600 mg.
 The suppositories are used in treating luteal
phase defect, premenstrual syndrome, luteal
phase spotting, and in the preparation of
the endometrium for implantation.
 7. Packaging and storage
 Glycerin suppositories and glycerinated
gelatin suppositories are packaged in tightly
closed glass containers to prevent a moisture
change in the content of the suppositories.

 Suppositories prepared from a cocoa butter

base are usually individually wrapped or
otherwise separated in compartmentalized
boxes to prevent contact and adhesion.
 Suppositories containing light-sensitive
drugs are individually wrapped in an
opaque material such as metallic foil.
 Suppositories are also commonly packaged
in slide boxes or in plastic boxes.
 It is necessary to maintain suppositories in a
cool place.
 Suppositories having cocoa butter as the
base must be stored below 30C, and
preferably in a refrigerator (28C).
 Glycerinated gelatin suppositories are best
stored at temperatures below 8C and can
routinely be stored at controlled room
temperature (2025C).
 Suppositories made from a base of
polyethylene glycol may be stored at usual
room temperature.
 8. Vaginal inserts
 Vaginal tablets, frequently referred to as
vaginal inserts, are usually ovoid in shape
and are accompanied in their packaging
with a plastic inserter.
 Vaginal tablets contain the same types of
antiinfective and hormonal substances as
the vaginal suppositories.
 They are prepared by tablet compression,
and are commonly formulated to contain
 lactose as the base or filler
 starch as the disintegrating agent
 polyvinylpyrrolidone as a dispersing agent
 magnesium stearate as a tablet lubricant.
 Questions
1. What factors may affect drug absorption
from rectal suppositories?
2. How many bases are there in preparing
suppositories?
3. How to prepare rectal suppositories by
molding ?
4. How to calculate the quantity of base?