What You Need to Know About Rectal Suppositories

Purpose of Suppositories

Rectal suppositories are given to persons who cannot take medicines by mouth. Suppositories are commonly given to treat:

Fever
Nausea
Pain
Constipation
Inflammation or infection of the rectum

Who Should Not Be Given a Suppository?

Persons with newly developed stomach pain, when the cause is unknown.
Persons who have had recent surgery on the rectum, bowel, or prostate gland.
Persons who have rectal bleeding or a prolapse (dropping) of rectal tissue from the rectal opening.
Persons who have very low platelet counts (e.g. cancer patients) who might bleed easily if you place something in the rectum.

Rectal Bleeding

Insertion of a suppository normally should not cause rectal bleeding. However, a small amount of bleeding from a hemorrhoid might occur when you give a suppository. If you notice blood on your gloved fingers after giving a suppository, look for the source.

If the blood is from a hemorrhoid, the bleeding should stop in a short time. Remember with internal hemorrhoids, you will not see the bleeding but it will appear on the glove tip.
If the person is taking a blood thinner (anti-coagulant) a small amount of bleeding is not uncommon.
Bleeding that does not stop within 2 to 3 minutes is not normal

If you are not sure of the source of the bleeding and if it has occurred more than once, notify the person’s doctor.

What is a Hemorrhoid?

External Hemorrhoid

A hemorrhoid forms either within the anal canal (called internal) or through the opening of the anus (called external) as a result of pressure within the blood vessels in the canal.

Normally when a person has a bowel movement, the blood vessels in the anus fill with blood. If you strain to have a bowel movement, pressure causes the blood vessels to stretch. Repeated straining, when having a bowel movement, is a common cause of hemorrhoids. For example, a person who becomes constipated often is at risk for forming hemorrhoids.

Hemorrhoids also form from increased pressure in the veins in women near the later stages of pregnancy and in people who are overweight.

Symptoms of a Hemorrhoid:

Bleeding with a bowel movement. After wiping, toilet paper may be spotted bright red with blood.
Itching or burning
Pain when rubbed or after wiping with toilet paper.

Many medicines are not safe to take after they have been split. Some are coated to be long-acting or to protect the stomach. Always talk with the person’s doctor or pharmacist before splitting medicines. If the doctor decides a pill can be safely split, have the doctor write the prescription to reflect that, "Take 1/2 tab daily." Also ask the pharmacist to split the pills for you. They have the tools to correctly split medicines.