suppository
The definitions used in this glossary of terminology either have been provided by the authors of the articles, or have been extracted wholly or in part, or paraphrased from the following sources: The American Medical Association Encyclopedia of Medicine, Charles B. Clayman, MD, Medical Editor, Random House, New York, 1989; Biotechnology from A to Z, 2d Edition, William Bains, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2002; A Dictionary of Genetics, 6th Edition, Robert C. King and William D. Stansfield, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2002; Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 29th and 30th Editions, W. B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 2000, 2003; Genes VII, Benjamin Lewin, Oxford University Press, New York, New York, 2000; The Gale Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders, Volumes I and II, Stacey L. Blachford, Ed., Thomson Learning, New York, New York, 2002; The Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, Inc., Springfield, Massachusetts, 1997; Molecular Biology of the Cell, 3rd Edition, Bruce Alberts, et al., Garland Publishing, 1994; The Random House Dictionary of the English Language, Unabridged Edition, 1966; Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1991.
DEFINITION:
- suppository
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A solid, cone- or bullet-shaped object containing a drug and an inert (chemically inactive) substance, usually derived from cocoa butter or another type of vegetable oil. The suppository is placed in the vagina, rectum, or urethral orifice of the body and melts at body temperature, releasing the active ingredient.
Vaginal suppositories are used to treat vaginal disorders, such as candidiasis (thrush) or trichomoniasis, or to introduce contraceptive spermicides into the vagina.
Rectal suppositories are used to treat rectal disorders, such as hemorrhoids or proctitis. They may also be used to soften feces and stimulate a bowel movement. A rectal suppository is also used to administer a drug into the general circulation via blood vessels in the rectum if vomiting is likely to prevent absorption or if the drug would cause irritation of the stomach lining.
Drugs given by suppository include antifungal drugs, local anesthetics, corticosteroid drugs, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antibiotic drugs, and antiemetic drugs.
Used in 2 Term definitions
Used in 2 Term definitions