Questions?
How do I know if I inserted the suppository far enough?
You want to insert the suppository about 4 inches up into the rectum. You should feel the person’s internal anal sphincter close slightly around your finger as you move it up into the rectum.
Which end of the suppository do I insert first?
Always insert the blunt rounded end and be sure it is covered in lubricating jelly.
Does the foil come off before I insert the suppository?
Yes. Always take the foil off before insertion. There are persons who have had to visit emergency rooms to have suppositories removed because they forgot to remove the foil.
I give my grandmother a suppository every now and then for constipation. Why does it slip out so often?
Older adults often have a loss of internal sphincter control, making it difficult for them to hold a suppository. You might try to gently hold the buttocks together and coach the person to hold the suppository for several minutes, to be sure it is absorbed.