How To Give A Suppository Or Enema

If the person you’re caring for has trouble having a bowel movement, they may need some extra help with medications like a suppository or an enema, and they may need your help with it.

In this video, we’ll go over what these are and how to use them, so that you can help the person you’re caring for get some relief and feel more comfortable.

Let’s try it!

You’ll need either a suppository or enema based on what their doctor suggested.

A suppository is a bullet or cone shaped, firm medication and an enema is usually a small bottle of liquid medication. Both are given rectally to help someone have a bowel movement.

You’ll also need a disposable absorbent pad, some water based jelly lubricant, and some disposable gloves for you to wear.

It’ll be good to gather the supplies you’ll need to help them clean up after a bowel movement as well, like a basin of water and washcloths or some wet wipes, and some hand sanitizer.

Whether you’re giving a suppository or an enema, wash your hands and start with the person you’re caring for lying in bed. Remove any clothing on their bottom half, but keep them as covered as you can with a sheet. Now, help them turn over onto their left side, this helps the medication pass into their rectum more easily.

Next move their knee on top, so it’s bent up, that’ll make it easier for you to see.

Tuck the disposable absorbent pad under their hip and bottom, so if anything spills, the bed is protected.

Put on your gloves and use the lubricant to coat the tip of the enema or the entire suppository with a generous amount of lubricant. You can set it down on the side of the disposable pad if you need to at any time.

Use your non-dominant hand to separate the buttock cheeks of the person you’re caring for, if you notice anything abnormal or any bleeding, contact their doctor before you give the suppository or enema.

Once you can see their anus, have them take a deep breath to help them relax their muscles, as they breathe out you can insert the suppository or the tip of the enema into their rectum.

If you’re using a suppository, push the suppository into their rectum and use your finger to push it in as far as you can go comfortably, then push it towards the side. Slowly remove your finger.

For an enema, once the tip is inserted, squeeze the bottle to start the flow of the fluid, then roll the bottle up from the bottom to make sure all the fluid goes in, then slowly remove the bottle and throw it out.

Now you can remove your gloves and wash your hands.

If they can walk or stand, help them to the washroom or help them to use a bedside commode. A suppository will usually take about 30 minutes to work, and an enema may only take 5 minutes.

If they can’t stand, help them to sit on a bedpan.

Once they’ve had a bowel movement, help them get washed up and dressed again.

Giving someone a suppository or enema is not difficult, but it can feel awkward. Check out our video on how to make tasks like these a little easier, by clicking here.

For more videos to help support caregivers, visit our website.