Abstract

Rectal drug delivery is a viable alternative to oral and parenteral routes of administration for protein-peptide drugs, since it prevents first-pass metabolism and delivery. Rectal administration enables both local and systemic therapy of drugs. The rectal drug delivery system is a useful alternative for patients who cannot swallow or are unconscious, to the oral route of administration. Traditional rectal dosages have previously been used for localized treatments, including antipyretic delivery, hemorrhoid delivery, and laxative delivery the ongoing research and development in this area of drug delivery systems may unlock the hidden potential of the rectal drug delivery system. The present review provides various advantages and disadvantages, optimizations and criteria for drug selection. The anatomy and physiology of the rectum, dosage types, and factors involved in rectum drug absorption, absorption barriers, and absorption enhancers for use and evaluation are all discussed. Polymers used for the rectal drug delivery route are also discussed in this review.