How long should a patient remain lying down after receiving a suppository?

A patient should remain lying down for approximately 2 minutes after receiving a suppository to ensure it is adequately absorbed into the gastrointestinal tract and achieves optimal effectiveness. During this time, the medication can dissolve properly and begin to take effect.

Remaining still allows the suppository to settle and minimizes the risk of it being expelled prematurely. In some practices, nurses or healthcare providers may recommend a longer duration, typically around 10 to 15 minutes, but 2 minutes is often deemed sufficient for the medication to establish itself. By positioning the patient correctly for this specified time, healthcare practitioners ensure that the therapeutic effects of the suppository are maximized.