Suppositories for kidney stone pain? - Kidney Disorders Message Board

bruised · 07-06-2003, 01:31 PM

I went to the doctor yesterday asking for some pain killers expecting Tylenol3's or something "orally"and I left with a prescription for suppositories?It's an anti inflammatory suppository.So I'm wondering if any of you had gotten this before?I gave it a shot last night,because I'm to take it every 12hrs for relief,but for some reason,it just didn't stay in?So anybody had this before?

foz1130 · 07-06-2003, 08:07 PM

I have had suppositories after kidney surgery. I know what you mean by not staying in. You may have to try laying down once inserted and hold your cheeks closely together for awhile if you can. They do tend to help the pain and discomfort but need time to get into your system. Sorry to be graphic but not sure how to describe what you need to do. Just try to stay still for a little while once it has been inserted. Hope you feel better.

Sarah68 · 07-07-2003, 04:58 AM

Basically, suppositories can be slightly quicker acting, but also longer acting than oral drugs, because they are absorbed directly into the system via the intestinal mucosal lining of your bowels and are released more slowly into your system, hence, you only need to take them every 12 hours or so. This bypasses the gut, where oral meds are broken down by the stomach acids and other digestive enzymes, whereby, these work quicker, but the effectiveness is not as long, so hence, 4 to 6 hourly.

Also, you say that the suppository keeps coming out? This is because you have not inserted it properly and if you use correct procedure for insertion, this should not happen.

Firstly, lie down on a bed, a couch or even the floor. Lie on your left hand side - this is how the bowel runs and if you lie on your right hand side, you are likely to rupture your bowel, or the liklihood is more so than if you lie on your left.

Next, whilst lying on your left side, bring both your knees right up towards your belly/chest. Put a glove on your right hand and then slowly part the cheeks of your butt and locate the anal opening. Also ensure that the suppository has plenty of KY jelly on it for lubrication purposes or some other form of water soluble lubricant. Insert the suppository and then to make sure that it has gone, follow-up with your finger afterwards to push it further and you should then feel it going all the way in and up where it will then start to be absorbed. Sometimes, it may not go in if your muscles are tight, which can be the case, so do a few deep breaths and try to relax and it should insert ok. Also, ensure that you have had a BM, so that your rectum/anus are empty and this will make insertion easier. If you need to have a BM, there is a chance that stool will be sitting in your rectum/anus and if you try inserting a suppository at this time, you will just be putting it into the stool and so it will not go in properly and will not be absorbed adequately either.

Hope this helps coming from someone who has performed this procedure many times before?

bruised · 07-07-2003, 11:55 AM

Thanks for the response.I thought it was a strange way to relieve kidney stone pain?I guess it could be better anally instead of orally!The meds are also used for arthritis sufferers.Don't ask me how arthritis and kidney stone pain are alike?