Vaginal Suppositories

Vaginal suppositories, Globuli vaginales, a medicinal form for introduction into the vagina in the form of round, solid pellets that melt at human body temperature. For preparing V. suppositories, cocoa butter (But. cacao, melting point about 33°) or a special glycerin-gelatin mass (Massa gelatinosa) serves as the base; with this base, one or another medicinal substance is thoroughly mixed. Vaginal suppositories are manufactured by manual or machine methods, the latter being more hygienic and economical. V. suppositories with a glycerin-gelatin mass are prepared by pouring into molds. To obtain the glycerin-gelatin mass, a mixture of 15 parts white gelatin, 55 parts glycerin, and 90 parts water is heated in a water bath. According to Ph. VII, the weight of V. suppositories ranges from 2 to 8 g; if the weight is not specified by the physician, V. suppositories are prepared at 4 g. Sometimes instead of a round shape, suppositories are given an egg-shaped form (Ovula vaginalis, "Ovules" as used by French authors), sometimes bringing their weight up to 16.0. Narcotic, astringent, antiseptic, and other medicinal substances are introduced into vaginal suppositories for local effect on the vaginal mucosa; this form is often used to introduce contraceptives into the vagina: quinine, quiniozole, mercuric chloride, lactic acid, etc.

Rarely, vaginal gelatin capsules are used - Capsulae vaginales gelatinosae.