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...
But getting off of oxycontin is what has saved me! I was in so much abdominal pain and it was from the oxy building up like glue in my GI tract! Lynne, don't be afraid of changing meds, your GI health is far more important! Constipation is serious and can lead to blockages like it did me! Or worse a ruptured bowel from a blockage and release sewage into your abdominal cavity! YUCK! Not to mention skin problems, acne, pain, lack of energy, poor sleep, hernias, hemmoriods and weight gain as a side effect of continued severe constipation! Also, our digestive system must "sleep" just like our minds do! I often find after a good, long night of sleep, Im able to go right after I wake up and naturally too!
Just my 2 cents from experience and getting off oxycontin/oxycodone has literally turned the faucet back on and I've had more energy in the last week then I have in the 5 years I was religiously prescribed oxy!
Good luck! And remember, somethings gotta give to break the cycle!
Riss