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How Can You Manage Opioid-Induced Constipation?

Opioids have gotten a bad name over the last several years because so many users have overdosed and died. But people have been using these drugs, also known as narcotics, for millennia. The ancient Assyrians, Sumerians and Egyptians all recognized the power of the opium poppy to ease pain. Modern medicine uses synthetic analogs and derivatives of natural opioids for people whose cancer pain would be unbearable otherwise. Used properly, they can make a tremendous difference–if you can manage the side effect of opioid-induced constipation.

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Featured

 Opioid-induced Constipation: Old and New Concepts in Diagnosis and Treatment

Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) is one of the most common, under-recognized, and under-treated side effects of opioid analgesics. OIC significantly reduces the quality of life by causing psychological distress, lowering work productivity, and increasing access to healthcare facilities. The economic and social burden of OIC led to the development of precise strategies for daily clinical practice.

Articles of Interest

How to Find Relief for Opioid-Induced Constipation in 5 Steps

Opioid-induced constipation is a common and often distressing side effect for many individuals managing chronic pain with opioid medications. It can lead to significant gastrointestinal issues, affecting a person’s daily life and overall well-being. If you’re looking for quick relief, here are some strategies:

Managing Opioid Induced Constipation (OIC)

Chronic constipation from opioids pain is a debilitating condition that affects millions worldwide. For many patients, opioid medications are a critical part of their pain management regimen. However, opioid use can come with significant gastrointestinal side effects, the most common being opioid induced constipation (OIC).

Opioid Induced Constipation – Part 1: Established Management

... OIC takes place mainly due to the stimulation of enteric μ-opioid-receptors, leading to less propulsive contractions in the intestines, greater fluid absorption in the colon, and drier stools. Opioids may also raise the rectum’s sensory threshold and tighten the anal sphincter In general, patients with regular opioid exposure will require pharmacologic therapy to appropriately manage OIC; notable exceptions include patients with pancreatic insufficiency and patients receiving systemic cancer treatment that is associated with diarrhea.

Opioid-induced constipation – a preventable problem

One of the most common adverse effects of chronic opioid therapy is constipation. Up to 95% of patients prescribed an opioid report constipation as a side effect, which can occur soon after taking the first dose.

Pharmacological prevention and treatment of opioid-induced constipation in cancer patients: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Scientific evidence on prevention and treatment of opioid-induced constipation (OIC) in cancer patients is limited. Naldemedine and magnesium oxide are most likely effective for the prevention of OIC in cancer patients. Oxycodone/naloxone, naldemedine and methylnaltrexone are effective for the treatment of OIC in cancer patients.

Recommendations for the management of opioid-induced constipation - how to improve usability in clinical practice

In cases of OIC non-responding to standard laxatives, treatment with PAMORAs should be initiated. A convincing body of evidence exists regarding the efficacy and safety of these agents in the treatment of OIC.

Resources

Top 5 Opioid Induced Constipation Remedies for People in MAT

It is not a good idea to rely on laxatives to relieve constipation while undergoing buprenorphine or methadone treatment. Your body will become dependent on them, but preserving your body’s natural ability to eliminate without medication is essential. Here are some of our top tips for natural constipation relief:

OIC Awareness Day

Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) can be a frequent and commonly underdiagnosed side effect of opioid medications, affecting many individuals who rely on opioids for chronic pain management. However, discussing OIC with healthcare providers can be uncomfortable and embarrassing for patients. This is where OIC Awareness Day comes in.

STOPIOID

STOPIOID is a free open access medical education (FOAMed) resource for health care providers. Postings are evidence based, with a focus on multi-modal approaches to pain management and opioid harm reduction. This resource explores methods to curtail the opioid epidemic while providing appropriate pain control.

Understanding Opioid- Induced Constipation (UOIC)

If you're living with chronic pain, you may have been prescribed an opioid medication as a treatment for your pain. Opioids (eg, codeine, hydrocodone, and morphine) can help treat pain, but they can also have side effects, even when taken as directed. OIC is a different type of constipation because it’s caused by the activity of opioids in the gut.

StatPearls

Opioid-induced constipation (OIC) accounts for between 40 and sixty percent of patients without cancer receiving opioids. Laxatives must be started at the same time as the opioid to prevent OIC. Once the disorder is established, treatment involves both pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapies. OIC may present immediately when a patient takes the opioid, or it may present gradually during opioid therapy.