Rectal suppositories for a sore throat.

[Larry Mudd]

I had a hell of a sore throat recently, and my wife suggested I ask the pharmacist for OTC suppositories.

At first I thought it was a humourous linguistic mix-up, and that she was looking for "lozenge," or something -- but she confirmed that she actually meant rectal suppositories. Then I figured she was just pulling my leg. "Say, I have a wicked sore throat - is there anything I can put in my ass for that?"

I thought no more about it until today, because it's her turn to have a wicked sore throat, and she told me that she intended to seek out some suppositories for it. "They work better than anything," she insists.

I understand that lots of drugs can be administered that way, but I still had a hard time swallowing this. (Yeah, yeah, just like the old joke.) I checked it out, and they really do exist (http://www.rougier.com/newEnglish/display_products.asp?sectionid=4&pid=10). They're from Québec, just like the wife.

Now, for the GQ portion of my post:


Are these common outside of Québec? I have never heard of such a thing.
What is the pharmacological action of the active ingredient (bismuthdipropylacetate,) and why is rectal delivery preferred over oral? (Just curious.)
Thanks!

[Rhythmdvl]

Sorry I can't help, but this (http://www.doingitwrong.com/)is the first thing I thought of. :)

[Ají de Gallina]

I had a hell of a sore throat recently, and my wife suggested I ask the pharmacist for OTC suppositories.

At first I thought it was a humourous linguistic mix-up, and that she was looking for "lozenge," or something -- but she confirmed that she actually meant rectal suppositories. Then I figured she was just pulling my leg. "Say, I have a wicked sore throat - is there anything I can put in my ass for that?"

I thought no more about it until today, because it's her turn to have a wicked sore throat, and she told me that she intended to seek out some suppositories for it. "They work better than anything," she insists.

I understand that lots of drugs can be administered that way, but I still had a hard time swallowing this. (Yeah, yeah, just like the old joke.) I checked it out, and they really do exist (http://www.rougier.com/newEnglish/display_products.asp?sectionid=4&pid=10). They're from Québec, just like the wife.

Now, for the GQ portion of my post:


Are these common outside of Québec? I have never heard of such a thing.
What is the pharmacological action of the active ingredient (bismuthdipropylacetate,) and why is rectal delivery preferred over oral? (Just curious.)
Thanks!
Rectal delivery is faster than swallowing the same medicine. The pill itslef does nothing to help your throat as it goes down.
Of course, I'd rather have a sore throat.

[irishgirl]

Anectdotally, the French are particularly fond of suppositories.

They use more rectal preparations than the rest of Europe...combined.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/features/3634345/30-reasons-why-we-hate-the-French.html

Number 14.

It does actually make sense for a sore throat- if you have difficulty swallowing the medication an alternative method of administration makes sense.

[Larry Mudd]

What do you know, if you Google "French suppositories" (http://www.google.ca/search?q=french+suppositories&hl=en&safe=off&rlz=1R2ADBF_enCA328&sa=2), the first three results contain variants of "Suppositories for a sore throat? What?"

[Beware of Doug]

My first thought was that you were about to put the suppositories in your throat.

My second thought, "That would taste like ass."

My third thought, "No, wait..."

[Duckster]

<hijack>

"Couples, for twenty-five points and a chance to win the big prize selected especially for you, your spouse was asked to answer this question: What is the best medicine for a sore throat. Couple Number One?"

"Ah, Bob, that would be up the butt ..."

</hijack>

[Ludovic]

I hear that rectal suppositories are a favorite of Deuce Bigalo: Male Gigolo.

[KlondikeGeoff]

Can't resist:

Q: What is the definition of "innuendo?
A: An Italian suppository.

[EdwardLost]

There are oral treatments for constipation so I guess this makes sense.

[panache45]

Sure, you can treat a sore throat with a suppository . . . but it only works if you've got A REALLY LONG ARM.

[EdwardLost]

Sure, you can treat a sore throat with a suppository . . . but it only works if you've got A REALLY LONG ARM.

and flexible

[mnemosyne]

According to a salesman for a generic pharmaceutical company that I met a few years ago (while I worked for said company), he found it nearly impossible to sell the two brands of OTC suppositories to pharmacists in his territory, Alberta and BC. Apparently about 90% of the suppositories made by this company were sold in Québec, although it should be said that the big sellers were the ones intended to treat colds in infant and toddlers (much easier that trying to give pills or syrup, it seems!)

June was suppository season...that's when production would begin in anticipation for the winter demand. We would manufacture and test a LOT of product!

[congodwarf]

Back when I was 20, I would have killed for a rectal antibiotic. When you have a severe case of Strep, taking oral antibiotics is nearly impossible. If you can't even drink water, how are you supposed to take a pill? I ended up back in the hospital with dehydration and even worse strep. I'd gladly stick a pill up my butt if it means never having to deal with that again.

[whiterabbit]

[slight hijack] The other day I heard a radio ad for some kind of thermometer, with a little kid whining about how they didn't want that thing stuck in their ear -- lucky kid, the new one they were selling didn't go there. (I'm not sure where it went.) "Kid," I said to my radio, "when I was around your age, they shoved thermometers up my ASS. My ear would have been far, far preferable. Trust me."[/slight hijack]

[Kobal2]

[slight hijack] The other day I heard a radio ad for some kind of thermometer, with a little kid whining about how they didn't want that thing stuck in their ear -- lucky kid, the new one they were selling didn't go there. (I'm not sure where it went.) "Kid," I said to my radio, "when I was around your age, they shoved thermometers up my ASS. My ear would have been far, far preferable. Trust me."[/slight hijack]

Some go under the armpit, some you put in your mouth, some are bands you tie around your forehead. Or you could take a steak knife w/ built in meat thermometer and stab the kid with it, but 4 out of 5 doctors don't recommend it.

[Harmonious Discord]

Wouldn't an epidermal patch be preferable for most people over a suppository?

[lorene]

According to a salesman for a generic pharmaceutical company that I met a few years ago (while I worked for said company), he found it nearly impossible to sell the two brands of OTC suppositories to pharmacists in his territory, Alberta and BC. Apparently about 90% of the suppositories made by this company were sold in Québec, although it should be said that the big sellers were the ones intended to treat colds in infant and toddlers (much easier that trying to give pills or syrup, it seems!)

June was suppository season...that's when production would begin in anticipation for the winter demand. We would manufacture and test a LOT of product!

Wow. Who knew that there's a 'suppository season'? 'Tis the season to cram medication up your bum?

Hijack of my own: Around Thanksgiving, my 5-year-old son was sick and he has a strong aversion to taking medication orally. I knew it was serious when he agreed to a suppository rather than liquid Motrin. You've got to really hate something if you'd rather have it shoved up your butt than swallow it, at least at that age. Anyhow, for whatever reason, my husband and I laughed way too much at the whole process, especially when we were looking at the leaflet that accompanied the medication and saw, "Step 1: Remove suppository from foil package." I do NOT want to meet the person for whom that step needs to be spelled out.

[Jinx]

Factually, this is interesting to know, but boy does this beg for all kinds of jokes! I will resist.

[aruvqan]

Wouldn't an epidermal patch be preferable for most people over a suppository?

Some meds do not work well on epi patches ... I had absolutely horrid results from the clonidine patch I tried out, I couldn't manage to suck off a theraputic dosage even tripling the patch on suggestion from my doctor. Personally, if I could get all my meds in a suppository instead of having to hork down 30 pills a day I would... *sigh*

[mnemosyne]

As mentioned, one of the advantages of suppositories is that the drug gets delivered directly to your blood stream. For molecules that degrade in stomach acid and need to be absorbed in a more neutral pH environment, going in via a suppository saves the company from having to design a drug that is coated to survive the stomach and then release the drug once in the intestine. It also provides much more rapid effects, which is a good thing for cold and anti-allergy medications, which people want fast-acting relief.

Fun fact: one of the tests on a suppository drug lot is "melting temperature". The manufacturer needs to ensure that the wax binding will melt above room temp but below body temp - usually criteria are something like 34-36C, IIRC. It's one of those time-consuming but zero effort quality control tests that are absolutely fantastic to do on a Friday afternoon, when you don't want to work anyways. Just watch a plug of wax melt in a capillary tube.

[Johnny Q]

Or you could take a steak knife w/ built in meat thermometer and stab the kid with it, but 4 out of 5 doctors don't recommend it.

And the fifth doctor is Hannibal Lecter.

[Kobal2]

And the fifth doctor is Hannibal Lecter.

Nah, the fifth recommends Trident Sugarless Gum, but that's because he's not paying attention.

[Jinx]

Nah, the fifth recommends Trident Sugarless Gum, but that's because he's not paying attention.

After seeing this thread, now I have to think twice where to stick the Trident gum!

[EvilTOJ]

Be sure to remove the wrapper first :D

[jjimm]

"I put them in my back passage, but for all the good they did, I might as well have stuck them up my ass."