Is it dangerous or more effective to use a pill such as tylenol by inserting it in your anus?

Answer 1

some good comments from other nurses. IV Tylenol in Australia (called perfalgan, oral preparations are called paracetamol or panadol) is much more expensive... as in 2cents for a tablet and $17 for the equivalent IV amount.

taking a tablet designed for oral administration rectally will be absorbed but not well - the suppository works better at this dud to design features as mentioned. furthermore panadol suppositories aren't as effective as oral panadol - so even using the suppository correctly it isn't as effective as the tablet taken correctly- as has been said - suppositories only in emergencies.

Answer 2

Olive Reindeer is very correct. I am a ICU RN, too.

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The below are suggestions. There is nothing here to replace the knowledge of your physician who knows your medical history and medical problems. A nurse CANNOT diagnose or tell a person which drug to take or prescribe through information but can educate.
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IV Tylenol takes effect the quickest.

Oral or swallowing is next.
To get quicker effect of taking by mouth, a physician will tell you to * chew * an aspirin if you are having chest pain as in heart pain as in thinking you are having a heart attack. This is because the aspirin will start absorbing through the membranes (lining of the mouth) as well as going down to the stomach.

Rectal in a suppository form is 3rd. This is because the glycerin the medication is carried by must melt first for the medication to absorb in the rectal membranes.

There are patches of some medications that are placed on the skin. These would be 4th.

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I have, in emergencies, put an oral medication in the rectum. A gloved hand with KY jelly can push it in. Also, I have given liquid in the rectum by inserting a small barely flexible catheter into the rectum and s l o w l y pushing the fluid in so that it does not squirt back out. A small syringe inserting about 1- 2 inch into the rectum can do the same thing. ONLY a trained person should do this because if there is a problem with rectal tissue and a excited, untrained person, the inside rectal tissue can be perforated (damaged).

What emergency, you may ask ?
* A person in seizures cannot take anything by mouth. A person heaving uncontrollably cannot swallow. A person refusing a pill because they are mentally disabled - they can fight enough that they can cause aspiration of the medication into the lungs.

I have also used the rectal administration to give medication for seizures in pets, such as a dog or cat.

For vomiting, a anti-nausea medication may just be thrown up if taken by mouth. These medications are made in a suppository form for this purpose.

If a person needs to ask a physician for a different way of giving a medication, you can ask for some suppositories and oral medication.

Hope this helps ! We could use a little more information.
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Answer 3

Depends on whether the pill was manufactured to be used PR (per rectum or rectally). Tylenol is able to be given rectally but only when in a proper form (eg. suppositories).

Obviously it is not appropriate to be used rectally when the person has diarrhoea or poor bowel absorption or orally when the person is vomiting or has a stomach condition that does not allow for absorption.

Tylenol is now made for IV use which the manufacturer states is as effective as 10mg or morphine. This is used extensively in the Operating Suite/Recovery.

Generally is the patient is conscious and co-operative orally is the most appropraite and cheapest choice. I dont think there is any difference in the action how it is administered.

Answer 4

if it's meant to be taken orally, take it as such. Suppositories are meant to break down much easier than most regular pills, but are normally also much larger. Always take as directed, or otherwise things may end up worse than they started...

Answer 5

Begs the question "why?", all pills are designed to be taken the way described on its packaging. If it says take orally then do it if its a supository then and only then does it go in the other way, The makers put sugar coating on some and "dont chew" on others because the way the drug behaves once its in your body is the way its meant to behave . so NO dont put it up ya bum .......

Answer 6

Tylenol in pill form is to be taken orally.

Answer 7

No, you put a pill in your mouth. You put a suppository in your anus, and not vice versa, like a patient of mine once did!

Answer 8

I wouldn't do this. I don't know why people assume that your anus is tough and can take anything, it cannot. You could harm yourself.
It's the same as "don't put anything up your nose if you can't get your elbow up it" the same situation here.

Answer 9

Not sure how dangerous it is, but it definitely not the smartest thing I've ever heard. The directions say "take orally" not "take anally". If you can't take it by mouth, I suggest you not take it at all.

Answer 10

Oral pills are designed to be broken down by stomach acid- i.e. they require stomach acid to dissolve so as to be absorbed into the body system. The butt ain't got the right stuff, man.