Glycerin suppositories: when to use

At a glance

Glycerin suppositories are a commonly used option for short-term relief of constipation. They work locally in the rectum, drawing water in and stimulating a bowel movement — typically within fifteen minutes to an hour. They are available without prescription from most pharmacies.

This guide covers when glycerin suppositories are helpful, how to use them, and what to be aware of.

When they are commonly used

Glycerin suppositories are most often used for:

• Occasional constipation when a bowel movement has not happened for several days
• Before or after procedures when a gentle, controlled bowel movement is needed
• When oral laxatives are too slow — suppositories act faster because they work locally
• For people who have difficulty swallowing oral medications

They are not typically used as a first-line daily treatment for chronic constipation — oral approaches (fibre, osmotic laxatives, stool softeners) are usually preferred for ongoing management.

How to use them

Practical steps

1. Wash your hands
2. Remove the suppository from its wrapper
3. If it is soft, you can firm it up briefly by running cold water over it (still in the wrapper)
4. Lie on your left side with your right knee drawn up toward your chest
5. Gently insert the suppository, pointed end first, into the rectum — approximately two to three centimetres
6. Remain lying down for fifteen to twenty minutes to allow the suppository to work
7. When you feel the urge to have a bowel movement, go to the toilet

Tips from common experience

• A small amount of water-based lubricant on the tip can make insertion easier
• The urge may come quickly — stay near a bathroom
• Try to hold the suppository for at least fifteen minutes for full effect
• If the suppository is expelled before it dissolves, it may not have had time to work

What to expect

• A bowel movement typically within fifteen minutes to one hour
• The stool may be softer than usual
• Some people experience mild cramping as the suppository works
• The effect is limited to the current bowel movement — it does not change ongoing bowel function

When they are not the right choice

• As a daily long-term solution — frequent use suggests the underlying constipation needs different management
• With significant rectal pain or active inflammation — insertion may be uncomfortable or harmful
• After certain surgeries — check with your surgical team before using anything rectally
• When there may be a bowel obstruction — if you have severe pain, bloating, and no gas passage, seek medical attention rather than using a suppository

When to see a clinician

If you find yourself needing glycerin suppositories regularly — more than once or twice a week — that is a signal that the constipation may benefit from a different approach. Your GP or pharmacist can help identify a more sustainable plan.