Methadone Constipation
 

I know, not a subject we want to talk about, but...........

I did a search and couldn't find anything on this subject. I am on Methadone maintenance (along with Neurontin) for SFN and the Methadone gives me bad constipation. I have terrible Gastroparesis, so I cannot have fiber. I can't stand the taste of prunes or yogurt, so they are out. I drink about 3 8oz glasses of water a day as well as another 2 glasses of juices or soda a day. I cannot exercise or walk much obviously. I have heard many things about laxative and stool softeners that say you should not take these over an extended period of time because they can give you a lazy bowel.

I have extreme cramps and pain because of this and am looking for any suggestions you might have for those of you with my same issues.

Jay

There is a new drug in US...

Relistor, that is made for this problem.
http://www.wyeth.com/hcp/relistor/ho...WT.mc_ev=click

It is injected, and will cause a BM within 1/2 hr or so.
Faster in some.

You can ask your doctor about it.

I see it is contraindicated for patients with mechanical gastrointestinal obstruction. I wonder if this means my Gastroparesis, which is caused by failure and irregularity of the stomach muscle pacemakers to fire, thus causing immotility.

I'll have to ask my doc about that. Thanks for the info. I wonder if anyone else has taken this around here.

Jay

Magnesium does the trick
 

My husband and I both take magnesium supplements to help in this area. Our doc tells us to be sure to take every day with a meal. You can start with 2-3 250mg. tabs and if that doesn't help, take 1-2 more. Also continue with the stool softeners for the added moisture.

Since starting this and sticking with it daily, things are just dandy in this area. Check with your doc to see if it might work for you as well.

Happy Friday,
Doxie

Jim takes magnesium sulfate in extreme cases. It's sold at drug stores like Walgreens in a liquid form. Lemon lime or cherry flavor. He takes methadone too but uses a daily stool softner.

This injectable drug is a narcotic antagonist...it blocks the effects of opiates on the bowel without lowering your pain
relief that occurs in the brain.

Gastroparesis is not an obstruction per se. Obstructions are like tumors, or severe adhesions, causing narrowing of the colon.

You can only get this drug from a doctor, so your doctor will have to decide if it is right for you.

Have never tried Miralax, so I don't know if it causes "lazy bowels" but I heard good things about it.
for more please go to this link
http://www.miralax.com/miralax/consu...sdifferent.jsp

Thanks all! :-) I think I'll try this Miralax and if doesn't do it, I'll see my doc about that injectible drug.

Boy, this is why I love this forum, you all are very caring and helpful folks!

Jay

just a reminder about our copyright guidelines

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it is also a good idea to put the quoted piece in the forum quote tags here http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/im...itor/quote.gif

thanks :)

Picked up the Mirilax tonight and will try it tomorrow. Hope it works!