Release and rectal absorption of aminophylline suppositories prepared in a hospital pharmacy

In vitro release and in vivo rectal absorption of suppositories containing aminophylline and various bases prepared in our hospital pharmacy were investigated. The release tests were conducted using three methods: the cylindrical filter paper method, the Sartorius solubility simulator method and the disintegration test in J.P. IX. In all cases, release from PEG-containing suppositories was better than that from Witepsol-containing products. However, this tendency was not reflected in the blood level of theophylline after rectal absorption of these suppositories.