Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
As many of you know Opiates and non steroidal antiinflammatory drugs are associated with constipation.
I wanted to post about why this happens AND discuss some treatments of drug induced constipation:
1) Opiods affect all segments of the stomach and intestine (particularly the colon) altering GI neural input, inhibiting motility and increasing fluid absorption. Additionally opiates may increase the absorption of electrolytes and water, increase anal sphincter tone and reduce sensitivity to the presence of stool = all contributing to constipation and hard stools
2) FIBER AND BULK LAXATIVES (psyllium, bran, citrucel, etc) are GENERALLY NOT EFFECTIVE FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRUG INDUCED CONSTIPATION
3) STIMULANT LAXATIVES (senna and bisacodyl... which is dulcolax) increase intestinal motility and help with the efflux of water IN to the bowel which improves constipation. SENNA is more commonly used and slightly more effective than BISACODYL (Dulcolax) for opiod induced constipation.
4) OSMOTIC LAXATIVES: These include Magnesium or Phosphate containing laxatives and nonabsorbable sugars (lactulose, sorbitol, glycerin) and polyethylene glycol (PEG).
They increase fluid accumulation in the colon and small intestine which improves constipation and ARE EFFECTIVE FOR TREATMENT OF OPIATE INDUCED CONSTIPATION. Some data show that lactulose is better than sorbitol and that PEG is better lactulose....
5) EMOLLIENT LAXATIVES: This includes colace (docusate) or mineral oil and are inferior when used for the treatment of drug induced constipation than the osmotic and stimulant laxatives
Hope this helps
Dr O.
I wanted to post about why this happens AND discuss some treatments of drug induced constipation:
1) Opiods affect all segments of the stomach and intestine (particularly the colon) altering GI neural input, inhibiting motility and increasing fluid absorption. Additionally opiates may increase the absorption of electrolytes and water, increase anal sphincter tone and reduce sensitivity to the presence of stool = all contributing to constipation and hard stools
2) FIBER AND BULK LAXATIVES (psyllium, bran, citrucel, etc) are GENERALLY NOT EFFECTIVE FOR THE TREATMENT OF DRUG INDUCED CONSTIPATION
3) STIMULANT LAXATIVES (senna and bisacodyl... which is dulcolax) increase intestinal motility and help with the efflux of water IN to the bowel which improves constipation. SENNA is more commonly used and slightly more effective than BISACODYL (Dulcolax) for opiod induced constipation.
4) OSMOTIC LAXATIVES: These include Magnesium or Phosphate containing laxatives and nonabsorbable sugars (lactulose, sorbitol, glycerin) and polyethylene glycol (PEG).
They increase fluid accumulation in the colon and small intestine which improves constipation and ARE EFFECTIVE FOR TREATMENT OF OPIATE INDUCED CONSTIPATION. Some data show that lactulose is better than sorbitol and that PEG is better lactulose....
5) EMOLLIENT LAXATIVES: This includes colace (docusate) or mineral oil and are inferior when used for the treatment of drug induced constipation than the osmotic and stimulant laxatives
Hope this helps
Dr O.
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My 6mo twin DD's are EBF and just started rice cereal on the first. Everything has been going fine except this morning one of them had a diaper rash (lots of redness around her anus). I read this as one of the signs of an allergy. BUT I did just buy a different brand diaper yesterday (which they have used randomly before w/no issues). Do you think its the cereal or the diaper? Im ready to start...
Dr O.
I wish there was an answer that worked for me if someone knows of something new I would try it because nothing has worked well before.
Dr O.
Jess
I also try to make sure I eat fruits and veggies every day.
Thanks for posting this, its very helpful.
many hugs
Morgaine
I think I will try the Miralax. didn't it use to be prescription and now it's over the counter?
Is it any good?
I just bought the store brand as it was less...
many hugs
Morgaine
I'm going to give this a try for a while. Hope it works.
MIRALAX IS PEG (polyethylene glycol) which as mentioned in my initial post as an osmotic laxative.
Dr O.