Assistive Medication Administration Personnel (AMAP) Practice Exam

Which of the following defines the purpose of a suppository?

1. To provide immediate systemic effects.

2. To deliver medications rectally or vaginally.

3. To administer liquid medication intravenously.

4. To create a local effect on the skin.

The correct answer is: To deliver medications rectally or vaginally.

The purpose of a suppository is to deliver medications rectally or vaginally. This method of administration allows for medications to directly enter the bloodstream or act locally within the rectal or vaginal tissues. Suppositories can be particularly beneficial in situations where a patient has difficulty swallowing pills, is nauseated, or when rapid absorption is needed. The rectal or vaginal route can also bypass the gastrointestinal tract, reducing the chance of degradation of the medication by gastric acids or digestive enzymes, which is especially important for medications that are poorly absorbed orally. This route can also provide localized treatment for various conditions, such as constipation or vaginal infections. The other options highlight methods of medication administration that do not align with the specific use of suppositories. For instance, while some medications administered rectally can indeed have systemic effects, the primary function of a suppository is the delivery method itself, not just immediate systemic effects. Similarly, administering medications intravenously and creating local effects on the skin are clearly distinct from the mechanism of action of a suppository.