Complications of Aspirin - Suppositories Vs Oral

Aspirin suppositories are not available in Australia. Any supply is purchased from overseas for individual patients though this is uncommon.

I coordinate a Stroke Collaborative with a membership of approx 100 hospital and community clinicians. At a recent statewide Forum many members expressed interest in applying to get this product approved by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration. Rationale - stroke patients either have aspirin withheld, or have nasogastric tubes inserted to administer soluble aspirin. Both carry risks to the patient and increase the difficulty to comply with national and international clinical guidelines for stroke management. Suppositories provide a logical solution to this problem.

Before I proceed with this process, I was looking for sufficient evidence and advice regarding the use of PR Aspirin - effectiveness and complications specific to this route. The only information I have been able to obtain thus far is that there is debate about its usefulness as absorption is slow and unreliable via that route, and that there are a number of case reports of ulceration with long term use of supps in the USA.

Any assistance or information you are able to provide would be greatly appreciated.

Kind regards

Jane Levy

Principal Project Officer, Stroke Collaborative, Qld, Australia