Suppositories are designed to melt at body temperature, which is typically around 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. This allows them to dissolve effectively once inserted into the body, releasing the medication for absorption. The melting point being close to body temperature ensures that the suppository remains solid until it reaches the warmth of the body, thus optimizing the delivery of the active ingredients.
In contrast, suppositories are not designed to melt at room temperature, which is lower than body temperature and may not provide the desired therapeutic effect if they dissolve too early. At cold temperatures, such as 32 degrees Fahrenheit, suppositories would remain solid and would not provide any medicinal benefit, as they would not melt and disperse the medicine. Additionally, at the boiling point of 212 degrees Fahrenheit, the formulation would likely degrade or become unusable due to the extreme heat, potentially ruining the active ingredients.