Abstract
The traditional British resistance to the rectal administration of medicines is now slowly losing ground. That the patient's attitude has been reflected in the doctor's is surprising considering the obvious advantages of this route for patients unable to swallow tablets, prone to gastric irritation or suffering distress from frequent injections.
The recent availability of suppositories containing the powerful analgesic Fortral (pentazocine) is particularly welcome as it simplifies the control of severe pain in elderly, debilitated and incapacitated patients in hospital and at home.
Eleven Continental trials testifying to the effectiveness of Fortral Suppositories have been followed this year by two British papers (de Choisy 1973 and Flavell Matts 1973), whose authors both welcome the prospect of a form of potent analgesic that can be self-administered so easily even in the absence of a qualified attendant. One author (de Choisy 1973) concludes: ‘Fortral Suppositories provided good analgesia with a low incidence of side-effects. There were no reports of local irritation. The suppositories were well accepted as a source of treatment’.
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