# Rectal suppositories for a sore throat. **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 15, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136 "2010-01-15T23:04:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/1 "2010-01-15T23:04:06Z")
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: [ol] [li]Are these common outside of Québec? I have never heard of such a thing.[/li][li]What is the pharmacological action of the active ingredient (bismuthdipropylacetate,) and why is rectal delivery preferred over oral? (Just curious.)[/li][/ol]Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2010, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/2 "2010-01-15T23:21:49Z")
Sorry I can’t help, but [this](http://www.doingitwrong.com/)is the first thing I thought of. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aji_de_gallina/32/260_2.png) [@Aji\_de\_Gallina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aji_de_Gallina)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/3 "2010-01-16T00:08:19Z")
> [@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: > > [ol] > [li]Are these common outside of Québec? I have never heard of such a thing.[/li][li]What is the pharmacological action of the active ingredient (bismuthdipropylacetate,) and why is rectal delivery preferred over oral? (Just curious.)[/li][/ol]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. ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/4 "2010-01-16T00:47:47Z")
Anectdotally, the French are particularly fond of suppositories. They use more rectal preparations than the rest of Europe…combined. > **[30 reasons why we hate the French](https://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. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Mudd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f14d63/32.png) [@Larry\_Mudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Mudd)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/5 "2010-01-16T01:02:29Z")
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?” ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/6 "2010-01-16T04:54:03Z")
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…” ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/7 "2010-01-16T05:10:59Z")
\ “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 …” \ ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/8 "2010-01-16T05:25:24Z")
I hear that rectal suppositories are a favorite of Deuce Bigalo: Male Gigolo. ---
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/9 "2010-01-16T18:32:25Z")
Can’t resist: Q: What is the definition of "innuendo? A: An Italian suppository. ---
**Author:** ![EdwardLost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@EdwardLost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwardLost)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/10 "2010-01-16T18:54:15Z")
There are oral treatments for constipation so I guess this makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/11 "2010-01-16T19:14:15Z")
Sure, you can treat a sore throat with a suppository . . . but it only works if you’ve got _ **A REALLY LONG ARM.** _ ---
**Author:** ![EdwardLost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bbe5ce/32.png) [@EdwardLost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EdwardLost)\ **Post date:** [January 16, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/12 "2010-01-16T21:36:39Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Sure, you can treat a sore throat with a suppository . . . but it only works if you’ve got _ **A REALLY LONG ARM.** _ and flexible ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2010, 9:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/13 "2010-01-18T21:44:02Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![congodwarf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e36b37/32.png) [@congodwarf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/congodwarf)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/14 "2010-01-19T00:56:50Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/15 "2010-01-19T03:57:51Z")
[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] ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 5:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/16 "2010-01-19T05:05:13Z")
> [@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] 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. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/17 "2010-01-19T09:26:41Z")
Wouldn’t an epidermal patch be preferable for most people over a suppository? ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 9:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/18 "2010-01-19T09:53:46Z")
> [@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! 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. ---
**Author:** ![Jinx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c6cbf5/32.png) [@Jinx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jinx)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/19 "2010-01-19T11:00:26Z")
Factually, this is interesting to know, but boy does this beg for all kinds of jokes! I will resist. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2010, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136/20 "2010-01-19T11:22:02Z")
> [@Harmonious\_Discord](#): > > 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_ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rectal-suppositories-for-a-sore-throat/525136.md?page=2)