Hollow-type suppositories, which have a hollow cavity to accomodate drugs in various forms such as powder and solution, have been given to a number of patients during the past ten years and their usefulness has been confirmed. For example, more than 13, 000 hollow-type suppositories containing morphine, a potent analgesic, have been administered to patients suffering from severe pain in the terminal stage of cancer in various clinical departments of Shinshu University Hospital. This type of suppository is very effective in relieving such pain. The feature that various doses of morphine can be placed within the hollow-type suppository is very useful, when a higher dose is required to extent the desired effect. The hollow-type suppository that contains valproic acid, an antiepileptic, is effective for prophylaxis and management of seizures. This suppository is particularly beneficial for epileptic patients who cannot take medicines orally. Vaginal administration of a hollow-type suppository containing ulinastatin, which decreases the activity of elastase in the cervix of the uterus, was found to be effective in the prevention of imminent abortion, in combination with oral administration of uterine-relaxing agents. Thus, rectal and vaginal administrations of hollow-type suppositories are clinically useful drug delivery systems.
