Constipation is one of the most commonly reported side effects by opiate users. Whether taking opiates at therapeutic levels or abusing them, many users report sluggish bowel movements. For many, constipation is a relatively mild and temporary condition easily treated with laxatives and changes in diet, exercise and water consumption.
Prolonged use of opiates including Fentanyl, OxyContin, Methadone and Suboxone can lead to serious blockages, that can lead to serious illness or death if not addressed. Harvard Health Publications say opiates don’t have serious side effects when used correctly, as prescribed by a doctor. However, they are expected to cause constipation.
That expectation of painful symptoms is one of the top reasons people avoid or abandon opioid use. For normal bowel function, doctors recommend exercise, increased fluids and dietary modifications, including more fiber. This, however, may not be enough for opiate users and addicts.
Blockage can cause toxins to get trapped in the body, stressing the immune system and other functions. In “The Selfish Brain,” a book by Dr. Robert L. DuPont (with contributions by Betty Ford), DuPont says opiates are sometimes used to treat diarrhea because of their propensity to slow bowel function.
Symptoms of constipation include: abdominal bloating, swelling and cramping; straining to pass stool; pain, discomfort or blood with a bowel movement; nausea; weight loss; and decreased appetite.
What to look for with bowel obstructions:
Because addicts tend to neglect their health anyway, many choose to ignore the pain and warning signs of serious health problems. Addicts also tend not to eat balanced diets or drink enough water – which also worsens the problem.
Many opiate addicts report intense cravings for sugar and carbohydrates, foods that can wreak havoc on an already-sluggish system. Other addicts report eating very little, so they don’t “kill” the buzz from drugs like heroin, oxycodone and methadone. Avoiding food can also worsen severe constipation.
Chronic opiate use and abuse can cause severe gastrointestinal upset. For serious cases, medical help may be necessary.
Prolonged use of opiates including Fentanyl, OxyContin, Methadone and Suboxone can lead to serious blockages, that can lead to serious illness or death if not addressed. Harvard Health Publications say opiates don’t have serious side effects when used correctly, as prescribed by a doctor. However, they are expected to cause constipation.
That expectation of painful symptoms is one of the top reasons people avoid or abandon opioid use. For normal bowel function, doctors recommend exercise, increased fluids and dietary modifications, including more fiber. This, however, may not be enough for opiate users and addicts.
PROLONGED CONSTIPATION CAN BE FATAL
Opiates can interfere with normal elimination by relaxing the smooth muscle in intestines and preventing them from contracting and expelling waste. With regular use of opiates, stools can become rock hard, blocking the bowels. In severe cases, bowels can rupture, leading to sepsis or death.Blockage can cause toxins to get trapped in the body, stressing the immune system and other functions. In “The Selfish Brain,” a book by Dr. Robert L. DuPont (with contributions by Betty Ford), DuPont says opiates are sometimes used to treat diarrhea because of their propensity to slow bowel function.
Symptoms of constipation include: abdominal bloating, swelling and cramping; straining to pass stool; pain, discomfort or blood with a bowel movement; nausea; weight loss; and decreased appetite.
What to look for with bowel obstructions:
- Severe abdominal pain
- Vomiting
- Vomiting fecal matter
- Fever/chills
- Reluctance to eat
- Changes in responsiveness
A DOUBLE WHAMMY FOR OPIATE ADDICTS
Constipation and the resulting abdominal pain can cause addicts to take more painkillers to quell the pain. This merry-go-round of use further complicates both the addiction and the constipation.Because addicts tend to neglect their health anyway, many choose to ignore the pain and warning signs of serious health problems. Addicts also tend not to eat balanced diets or drink enough water – which also worsens the problem.
Many opiate addicts report intense cravings for sugar and carbohydrates, foods that can wreak havoc on an already-sluggish system. Other addicts report eating very little, so they don’t “kill” the buzz from drugs like heroin, oxycodone and methadone. Avoiding food can also worsen severe constipation.
Chronic opiate use and abuse can cause severe gastrointestinal upset. For serious cases, medical help may be necessary.
1 comments:
I take Suboxone for very severe depression that has either failed to respond to traditional therapy or reacted positively to traditional therapy but caused HORRIBLE side effects (ie wanting to crawwwllll out of my own skin, inability to swallow solid foods, etc.) That is unacceptable, period. I have had terrible, terrible depression since I was roughly 12-13 years old, so I was at the end of my rope. I was desperate, so I sought the assistance of a Suboxone doctor and got myself a prescription for it. I was told to take 8mg tid. Yeah, right! I started off at ~0.3mg qd and gradually upped the dose until I landed at 4mg qd, where I have stayed for about 5 or 6 months, pretty much depression free. Physical dependency has become an issue, but that's what happens when you take just about ANY psychotropic medication every day. I'm sorry, but I'll take physical addiction over depression-so-bad-that-you-can-hardly-move any day. However, it has given me awful constipation--so bad that I only go about once every 3 days as opposed to once or twice a day. My stools are often times very hard and in the shape of pellets (not good), sometimes accompanied by blood :(. I can literally feel the toxins mixing in with whatever blood may be left behind and making its way through my veins. It's such a gross feeling. I want to feel physically healthy again...how do I make this constipation go away? And no, I will not stop the Suboxone--I would rather die than feel depressed like before. I do not experience any euphoria from this medication and do not feel inclined to abuse it. Maybe I should try Lactulose?
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