Gelatin, glycerinated, suppositories

Suppositories are conical or ovoid shape solid preparation made up of fat (cocoa butter oil or theobroma oil), a wax or a glycerine-gelatin jelly. They are used for insertion into the rectum, where they melt, dissolve and disperse and exert their action - local as well as systemic. 

The use of water-soluble bases may result in some irritation because, as they take up water and dissolve, they may produce slight dehydration of the rectal mucosa. They are widely used, however, and release the drug by dissolving and mixing with the aqueous body fluids. PEG suppository bases and glycerinated gelatin are the most popular in this class. 

Gelatin is also used for tablets, suppositories (e.g., glycerinated), hemostatics and others. 

Some of these interactions are exploited to favorably alter the physical properties of gelatin for example, gelatin is mixed with a plasticizer, such as glycerin, to produce soft gelatin capsules and suppositories see Section 7. 

Glycerin is used as a plasticizer of gelatin in the production of soft-gelatin capsules and gelatin suppositories. 

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