FOR PHARMACISTS · SCIENTIFIC COLLECTION 10.0310 monographs · 36 SOPs · 22 forms

CGR-BP-016 / EDITION 10.0

Glycerol Suppositories

Suppositories · United Kingdom · BP

2026-10-14Reference monograph · Local adoption

REFERENCE FORMULA

Reference formula

Reference basis: 100 g bulk

IngredientSource quantityScaled quantity
Gelatin14 g—
Glycerol70 g—
Purified waterq.s. ad 100 g—

REFERENCE FORMULA SCALING

Proportional quantities of the same formula

Arithmetic aid. It does not change strength, dose, method or BUD and does not authorise compounding.

Scaling

Prerequisite formulations

No separate prerequisite monograph is listed.

Documentation

Preparation description
Suppositories: Glycerol Suppositories. Additional appearance criteria are not established by the specific text reviewed. [1]
Action and use
Glycerol suppository for local rectal laxative action. [1], [2]
Specifications
Glycerol: 66.5-73.5% w/w; disintegration ≤1 h [1]
Light
Finished-product photostability is not specified. Any required container light protection is stated under Storage. [1]
Air and oxidation
No oxidative stability study of the finished mixture or inert-atmosphere requirement is provided. Use the source container. [1]
Water and solubility
Glycerol is miscible with water. This does not establish product microbiological stability. [2]
Humidity
Glycerol is hygroscopic; limit raw-material exposure to moisture. [2]
Temperature
No permitted temperature excursion or freeze–thaw cycle is established. Processing and storage temperatures are stated in their respective fields. [1]
pH and compatibility
No finished-product pH range is specified. Do not add a pH adjuster without a supported formula change. [1]
Other interactions
Glycerol: hazardous reaction with strong oxidising agents. [2]
Ingredient-specific information
Glycerol: clear, colourless, viscous and strongly hygroscopic liquid. It mixes with water but is practically insoluble in fixed and essential oils.
Glycerol: retain original manufacturer, lot and reliable certificate. For the applicable raw materials, FDA describes DEG and EG testing, each limited to 0.10% under the relevant monograph. This is a raw-material limit. [2], [4]
Staff protection
Clean long-sleeved laboratory clothing, hair covering and gloves during handling; change gloves after contamination or damage. [1], [3], [5]
Risk assessment
Reference batch: 100 g bulk. First ingredient: Gelatin, 14 g. Independently check chemical form, units and every scale conversion before weighing.
Check homogeneity, aggregates, separation and actual yield before subdivision. Packaging should allow uniform application without introducing water into the contents.
For the local assessment record quantity per preparation, work frequency, duration of open handling, potential exposure routes and effectiveness of controls. These are assessment inputs; no fictitious final risk score is assigned.
For this procedure’s heating stage, check thermometer, heating method, duration and prevention of overheating/solvent loss. Completion of mixing does not establish cooling or complete homogenisation.
Release checkpoint: inspect aggregates, crystals, local texture differences and free liquid after completing the method. Record mixing geometry, batch size and actual temperatures; copying rpm to another mixer does not establish process equivalence. [1], [9], [11]
Compounding conditions
Before mixing: verify each ingredient’s chemical form and lot, record theoretical amounts and check equipment cleanliness. Follow the temperatures and addition sequence in the procedure below. [1], [5]
BUD rationale
No specific experimental period was located covering the complete exact formulation, container and microbiological suitability.
Contains 70 g glycerol, 14 g gelatin and water to 100 g. Binary glycerol–water results show aw reduction but do not measure this gelatin matrix or the moisture of the actual materials. Select the conservative aqueous category without applying 180 days.
Selected conservative general rule: up to 14 days at 2–8 °C for an aqueous form without adequately established preservation. Refrigeration must not cause precipitation, irreversible separation or other loss of suitability. If that condition fails, do not apply 14 days at room temperature; obtain specific short-use evidence.
Use-by date = the earliest allowed date from preparation plus selected period, ingredient expiries and any shorter supported limit. In-use dating never extends overall BUD. Complete the actual date for the batch after the required checks.
A default is a conservative dating limit, not experimental proof of batch stability. Its category depends on final composition, preservation and permitted temperatures. Water percentage or loss on drying does not determine aw. Document using SOP-014/F-006; use SOP-017/F-012 for specific aw evidence.
USP clarification: aw measurement is not required for every nonsterile preparation. Category assignment may use the exact composition and relevant representative examples; an uncertain or borderline formulation is best assessed by a suitable specific measurement. This edition contains no measured aw or released batch. The final preparation generally must not outlast the remaining BUD of its compounded bases/intermediates. An exception requires specific justification that physical, chemical and microbiological quality is not adversely affected. Record the final limit, intermediate preparation dates and their actual expiry dates separately. [1], [7], [8], [10], [12]
Prerequisites
No separately registered base is required. Any commercial vehicle remains the exact named product in the formula table. [1]
Equipment
Balance, suitable melting bath/vessel, thermometer, calibrated suppository moulds and mixing equipment. [1]
Compounding method
Add gelatin to about 30 mL nearly boiling water, then glycerol preheated to 100 °C. Heat on a water bath for 15 minutes or until dissolved. Adjust to 100 g with hot water or evaporation and fill suitable moulds. [1]
Observations
Up to 18 g gelatin is allowed by the source for tropical climates as a separate variant. Calibrate moulds for unit mass. [1]
Container and packaging
Selection for local assessment: well-closed dry container suitable for the dosage form. Check cleanliness, integrity, closure and material compatibility before filling. The specific monograph does not validate a particular commercial container. [1]
Quality control
Oxidise glycerol with sodium periodate and titrate using 0.1 M NaOH/bromocresol purple. Observe 15 min and 5 min after the successive additions. Each mL equals 9.210 mg glycerol. Suppository disintegration ≤1 h.
Polyol incoming QC: pharmacies test each lot or ensure documented testing by a reliable supplier, as described by FDA. IR identity alone does not exclude DEG/EG.
Record the method, acceptance criterion, actual result and reviewer separately in F-005. A critical specification failure requires quarantine and investigation under SOP-015; retesting needs justification. [1], [4], [11]
Storage
For the selected general ceiling: 2–8 °C, provided physical suitability and compatibility with the specific source are maintained. The 14-day rule does not apply at room temperature. [1], [6], [7], [8]
Dispensing
Dispense with a clear route, strength and use-by date. Complete amount per application and frequency from the prescription. [1]
Labelling
Glycerol Suppositories
Rectal use
Quantity: ____ Batch: ____
Prepared: ____ Use by: ____
Patient / dose / frequency: ____
Storage: 2–8 °C, after confirming suitability for refrigeration.
Temperature for this batch BUD: ____ [1], [6], [7], [8]
v9_controls
The numeric value is a literature reference ceiling subject to its specific conditions. No actual batch BUD has been assigned and no aw measurements have been produced. The exact formula, prerequisites, container, storage and quality evidence require approval for the actual application. The BUD clock starts when compounding begins. Use the shortest applicable supported limit and assess in-use dating separately. USP categories are a technical framework and are not presented as Greek legislation.

Independent Greek/English adaptation and organisation of facts from the cited source. This is not an official translation or publisher endorsement.

Sources and references

  1. British Pharmacopoeia 2016 — Glycerol Suppositories2016PDF pp. 1–1; user-supplied BP extract; URL is publisher catalogue, not the licensed full monographmaster formula2026-09-10
  2. FN/2003/PA/013 GLICEROLΔιαθέσιμο κείμενο / Retrieved textPDF pp. 1–2raw material or occupational2026-09-10
  3. PN/L/PG/002/00 INDUMENTARIAΔιαθέσιμο κείμενο / Retrieved textPDF pp. 1–5general staff protection2026-09-10
  4. FDA — Testing of Glycerin, Propylene Glycol, Maltitol Solution, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sorbitol Solution, and Other High-Risk Drug Components for Diethylene Glycol and Ethylene GlycolMay 2023, revision 1Recommendations; section on pharmacy compoundingraw material quality2026-09-12
  5. ASHP — USP <795> Key Changes2023pp. 1–3: scope, water activity and staff precautionsprofessional guidance; not the licensed USP chapter2026-09-12
  6. Texas State Board of Pharmacy — adopted 22 TAC §291.131, nonsterile compoundingTexas Register, 7 June 2024Beyond-use dating: aw categories, 14/35/90/180 days, limits and extensionspublic regulatory implementation of USP <795> BUD framework; not Greek law2026-09-12
  7. Illinois IDFPR — Nonsterile Compounding Self-Inspection ReportPublic checklist, retrieved 12 September 2026pp. 15–16, Establishing beyond-use datesPublic regulatory implementation of USP <795>; not Greek law; general limits and requirements for extension2026-09-12
  8. Nakagawa T, Oyama T. Molecular Basis of Water Activity in Glycerol–Water MixturesFrontiers in Chemistry. 2019;7:731Table 1; DOI 10.3389/fchem.2019.00731Full text read. Glycerol/water experimental system; not a stability study of suppositories or starch glycerolate2026-09-12
  9. NIOSH — Managing Hazardous Drug Exposures: Information for Healthcare Settings2023; DHHS (NIOSH) 2023-130Risk assessment; printed pp. 27–33, activity/formulation control tableWorkplace exposure, hierarchy of controls and activity-specific PPE; US government public-domain document2026-09-12
  10. USP — Compounding Standards and Beyond-Use Dates, 2022 updateNovember 2022, published by USP; public copy hosted by Mississippi Boardpp. 1–2; nonsterile tableRisk-based default categories; not product-specific stability or Greek law2026-09-12
  11. PIC/S — Guide to Good Practices for the Preparation of Medicinal Products in Healthcare EstablishmentsPE 010-4, 1 March 2014Chapters 1–9; Annex 2 (nonsterile liquids, creams, ointments)Professional quality-system framework; not automatic national legal adoption or certification2026-09-12
  12. USP — General Chapter <795> FAQsUpdated 1 November 2023Questions 52, 54–56, 60–62; PDF pp. 11–14Primary clarification of aw classification, extension prerequisites and compounded-component BUDs; not automatic Greek legal adoption2026-10-14