Opiate Induced Constipation

1

Hello, friends!

I do not even pretend to know the answer to this question. It's as if as soon as I find something that works a bit for the problem above, it will stop working.

Today, I found myself at a Gastrointerologist. The irony of this domino effect weighs heavy on my mind. I am a victim of Type II Trigeminal Neuralgia. Thus far, only opoids and opiates have brought the only significant relief for this condition that I've known, besides benzodizipines in the beginning before my disease progressed, between the years of 2003 and 2009. In 2009, I was in severe pain every day, trying everything I could to get out of pain and found that opiates worked for me.

I have Type II TN, therefore I need opiate pain medication, therefore I am constipated and have developed a "raw" digestive system in general. An unfortunate side-effect of pain medication, is that it all slows your metabolism, the time that it takes to digest one's food and the peristalsis and smooth muscle contractions that it takes for proper, timely elimination.

I've tried to cut my medications back. When I do this, the pain in my face and mouth reminds me of why I began on my current pain medication regimen. The pain is rather well-controlled, but this is only one of the side-effects which are the price I pay for a bit of relief.

I know that this subject has reared it's head before in other forums, but I have a question for each of you who run across this post (and don't be shy . . .if you are alive, you "go"). Although, my question is one which has been asked before in this group, I'd like to know from this group, the people who must use opiate pain medication for relief, which can cause severe constipation, HOW DO YOU HANDLE OPIATE INDUCED CONSTIPATION? Please share your tips and regimens.

Thanks in advance,

Stef

P.S. If nothing seems to work for you, please also feel free to share your rants. We are here to support one another, after all.

2

In addition to really careful diet, the naturopath suggested Triphala, which is an ayurvedic medicine that is great. I also try to cut back to no opiates for a multi-day stretch every month. If I'm lucky, I get a few good days, and if I'm not I am ok with gutting it out with the pain for a few days, as long as there is an end in sight. I guess I'm just very lucky that I don't experience withdrawal symptoms, considering that I have been on these drugs for years. Both of these things help way more than the additional drugs my doctor suggested, to the point where this is almost not a problem for me any more. I don't know that my doctor would approve of them, but I'm the one that has to live with this. The other drugs add to it, I think.

3

Docolax tablets and an emergency supply of Docolax suppositories on hand. Also, making sure I drink enough water. However, I am on a relatively light dose of Vicodin so my constipation may be easier to treat than yours. I've tried fiber pills and mixes, they don't do it for me.

4

I’m on morphine and boy if I don’t drink a truck load of fluids I’d pull an Elvis. Also I don’t eat a lot of dairy foods. But yeah lots and lots of water. If you hate drinking water (I hate drinking water to be honest) use some water flavoring, like crystal light or Mio.

5

I was prescribed a medication named Relistor a few months ago which did help with the constipation to some degree. The unfortunate part was that it was an injection. I now use over the counter Miralax and fiber supplements which help some.

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Kari, your "I'd pull an Elvis" comment cracked me up! Although constipation is no laughing matter -- sometimes you just have to laugh anyway!

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Mary,
I’m glad I could you give ya good laugh.

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I know it has been a while since anyone commented on this post but I wanted to share something I recently found to help me. I take morphine and I was really struggling with "going" Then I remembered something from the early days of TN. My doc at the pain clinic suggested I take several different vitamins and minerals that were suppose to be good for healing damaged nerves. One of these was magnesium. Back then, before morphine, I had to stop taking it because it made me go too much. So a few weeks ago, I remembered that and started taking it, 250 mg 3 times a day with meals. Now, most of the time, along with lots of water and fiber supplement, I am doing well with it. Hope this helps someone!