Suppositories – definition and types MCQs With Answer

Introduction

Suppositories are solid dosage forms inserted into the rectal, vaginal, or urethral cavity, where they melt, soften, or dissolve to provide local or systemic effects. For B. Pharm students, understanding the definition, classification by route, base types (fatty/oleaginous, water-soluble/miscible), and release mechanisms is essential. Key bases include cocoa butter (theobroma oil), glycerinated gelatin, polyethylene glycols (PEGs), and hydrogenated vegetable oils—each affecting melting range, drug release, stability, and patient acceptability. Shapes, sizes, and weights differ for rectal (torpedo), vaginal (oviform pessaries), and urethral (bougies). Master concepts like advantages, limitations, polymorphism, displacement value, and evaluation tests for quality control. Now let’s test your knowledge with 30 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. Which statement best defines a suppository in pharmaceutics?

• A sterile injectable solution administered parenterally
• A solid dosage form inserted into a body orifice to melt or dissolve and release drug
• A chewable oral solid designed for pediatric use
• A medicated transdermal adhesive system

Correct Answer: A solid dosage form inserted into a body orifice to melt or dissolve and release drug

Q2. Suppositories are primarily classified by route into which of the following types?

• Rectal, vaginal, and urethral
• Oral, sublingual, and buccal
• Nasal, otic, and ophthalmic
• Intravenous, intramuscular, and subcutaneous

Correct Answer: Rectal, vaginal, and urethral

Q3. Which of the following is NOT a type of suppository by route?

• Rectal
• Vaginal (pessary)
• Urethral (bougie)
• Buccal suppository

Correct Answer: Buccal suppository

Q4. The typical shape of a rectal suppository is best described as:

• Flat disc
• Bullet or torpedo-shaped
• Ring-shaped
• Cylindrical tablet

Correct Answer: Bullet or torpedo-shaped

Q5. The usual adult rectal suppository weight (with cocoa butter base) is approximately:

• 200 mg
• 1 g
• 2 g
• 5 g

Correct Answer: 2 g

Q6. Pediatric rectal suppositories commonly weigh around:

• 250 mg
• 500 mg
• 1 g
• 3 g

Correct Answer: 1 g

Q7. Vaginal pessaries typically have a weight around:

• 0.5 g
• 1 g
• 3 g
• 6 g

Correct Answer: 3 g

Q8. Urethral suppositories (bougies) for males typically weigh about:

• 0.5 g
• 1 g
• 4 g
• 10 g

Correct Answer: 4 g

Q9. Suppository bases are most accurately grouped into which categories?

• Volatile and non-volatile
• Hydrophilic and lipophilic surfactants
• Fatty (oleaginous) and water-soluble/water-miscible
• Crystalline and amorphous

Correct Answer: Fatty (oleaginous) and water-soluble/water-miscible

Q10. Which of the following is a fatty (oleaginous) base?

• Polyethylene glycol 4000
• Glycerinated gelatin
• Theobroma oil (cocoa butter)
• Polyvinylpyrrolidone

Correct Answer: Theobroma oil (cocoa butter)

Q11. Which base is water-soluble and commonly used to prepare dissolving-type suppositories?

• Beeswax
• Polyethylene glycols (PEGs)
• Hydrogenated vegetable oils only
• Hard paraffin

Correct Answer: Polyethylene glycols (PEGs)

Q12. A key advantage of cocoa butter as a suppository base is that it:

• Dissolves slowly in rectal fluids over many hours
• Melts at body temperature to release the drug
• Is highly hygroscopic, enhancing water uptake
• Requires no temperature control during manufacture

Correct Answer: Melts at body temperature to release the drug

Q13. An advantage of PEG bases compared to cocoa butter is that they:

• Always avoid rectal irritation
• Do not melt at room or body temperature and need no refrigeration
• Are ideal for heat-labile drugs due to high melting points
• Are preferred for oily drug solubilization

Correct Answer: Do not melt at room or body temperature and need no refrigeration

Q14. Glycerinated gelatin bases are mainly recommended for:

• Vaginal pessaries because they dissolve slowly and are hygroscopic
• Rectal suppositories because they melt rapidly
• Urethral bougies due to their high rigidity
• Transdermal patches for enhanced adhesion

Correct Answer: Vaginal pessaries because they dissolve slowly and are hygroscopic

Q15. Which statement about rectal absorption and first-pass metabolism is correct?

• All rectal veins drain into the portal vein causing complete first-pass
• No rectal veins drain into systemic circulation
• Lower and middle rectal veins drain systemically, reducing first-pass effect
• Rectal administration always eliminates first-pass completely

Correct Answer: Lower and middle rectal veins drain systemically, reducing first-pass effect

Q16. Rectal fluid is best described as having:

• Large volume and strong buffering capacity
• Minimal volume and near-neutral pH with low buffering capacity
• Highly acidic pH and high enzyme content
• Highly alkaline pH and abundant bile salts

Correct Answer: Minimal volume and near-neutral pH with low buffering capacity

Q17. Which drug–base pairing generally promotes faster release into rectal fluids?

• Water-soluble drug in fatty base
• Lipophilic drug in fatty base
• Water-soluble drug in PEG base
• Lipophilic drug in PEG base

Correct Answer: Water-soluble drug in fatty base

Q18. Overheating cocoa butter during preparation can lead to:

• Formation of a more stable high-melting polymorph
• Polymorphic transition to lower-melting unstable forms
• Complete sterilization without any impact on melting point
• Conversion to a water-soluble base

Correct Answer: Polymorphic transition to lower-melting unstable forms

Q19. Displacement value (DV) in suppository formulation is used to:

• Predict rectal absorption rate from pH
• Calculate the amount of base replaced by a given mass of drug
• Determine the hardness of PEG suppositories
• Assess microbiological quality of glycerinated gelatin

Correct Answer: Calculate the amount of base replaced by a given mass of drug

Q20. Which is NOT a common method of suppository manufacture?

• Fusion (molding)
• Compression molding
• Hand molding
• Wet granulation and tableting

Correct Answer: Wet granulation and tableting

Q21. The typical shape of a vaginal suppository (pessary) is:

• Oviform (egg-shaped)
• Flat disc
• Ring
• Capsule-shaped with enteric coat

Correct Answer: Oviform (egg-shaped)

Q22. Which of the following is primarily a local therapeutic use of rectal suppositories?

• Treatment of hemorrhoids with anesthetics and vasoconstrictors
• Systemic analgesia with opioids
• Treating hypertension
• General anesthesia induction

Correct Answer: Treatment of hemorrhoids with anesthetics and vasoconstrictors

Q23. Preferred storage condition for cocoa butter suppositories is:

• At 40–45°C to prevent crystallization
• Room temperature near heating vents
• Refrigeration to avoid softening and polymorphic changes
• Direct sunlight to reduce moisture

Correct Answer: Refrigeration to avoid softening and polymorphic changes

Q24. Which base usually does NOT require mold lubrication due to contraction on cooling?

• Glycerinated gelatin
• Polyethylene glycol blends
• Theobroma oil (cocoa butter)
• Carbomer gel

Correct Answer: Theobroma oil (cocoa butter)

Q25. A quality control test indicative of fatty-base performance is the:

• Liquefaction/softening time test
• Friability test
• Wicking test
• Viscosity of molten PEG at 80°C

Correct Answer: Liquefaction/softening time test

Q26. Disintegration testing is particularly relevant for which suppository type?

• Fatty base suppositories only
• PEG and other water-soluble/miscible base suppositories
• All transdermal systems
• Compressed tablets only

Correct Answer: PEG and other water-soluble/miscible base suppositories

Q27. Which excipient can raise the melting point and firm up cocoa butter suppositories?

• Beeswax
• Propylene glycol
• Sodium lauryl sulfate
• Sorbitol solution

Correct Answer: Beeswax

Q28. Urethral suppositories are also known as:

• Pessaries
• Bougies
• Pastilles
• Caplets

Correct Answer: Bougies

Q29. Regarding urethral bougies, which statement is correct?

• Female bougies are longer than male bougies
• Male bougies are longer than female bougies
• Both male and female bougies have identical dimensions
• Length is irrelevant; only diameter matters

Correct Answer: Male bougies are longer than female bougies

Q30. Which clinical situation can make rectal administration unreliable for systemic therapy?

• Severe diarrhea
• Mild fever
• Dry mouth
• Seasonal allergies

Correct Answer: Severe diarrhea

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