Prolonged Opioid Use May Induced Constipation

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.

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

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a new drug in April to help restore bowel function in those on long-term opiates. Relistor (methylnaltrexone bromide) is an injectable medication for opioid induced constipation.

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.

Prescription Drugs: Easier For Teens To Get Than Beer

It used to be that underage teens looking for a high would use a fake ID to get alcohol or buy drugs like marijuana from classmates or friends. Today they have to look no further than their parents’ medicine cabinets.

Non-medical use of prescription drugs among teens is soaring and studies show some parents are enabling their kids. The problem stems from many factors, including easy access to painkillers and other drugs, and some teen abusers who feel “safe” using a legal drug prescribed by a doctor.

The abuse of prescribed drugs is a global issue, and researchers say teens are using stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin, depressants or tranquilizers including Xanax, and opiate painkillers such as Oxycontin and Vicodin.

In August, Columbia University’s National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse released the National Survey of American Attitudes on Substance Abuse XIII: Teens and Parents. The center surveyed 1,002 teens, ages 12-17, and 312 of their parents.

PARENTS CAN BE “PASSIVE PUSHERS,” STUDY SHOWS

Although most parents surveyed admit being concerned about raising a child in today’s society, the study found, many failed to take the necessary action to prevent them from smoking, drinking and taking drugs.
Most disturbingly, the study said, some parents enable the use, while others encourage it. Failure on the part of the parents was attributed to factors such as:

• Not monitoring whereabouts of their children
• Not safeguarding prescription drugs like painkillers
• Not addressing drug problems at school or with their children’s friends
• Not setting a good example in the home

These “problem parents,” as the study calls them, became “passive pushers” by having unsecured prescription drugs in the home. One-third of teens surveyed said drug abusers they know had access to pills at home. Another third said they could get prescription pills from friends or classmates.

“The ready availability of prescription drugs in the home may also be a contributing factor in the 46% increase over last year in the percentage of teens who say prescription drugs are the substance they can most easily obtain,” the study said.

WHO IS AT RISK AND WHAT CAN BE DONE

The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that in 2006, 16.2 million Americans 12 years of age and older had taken a prescription painkiller, tranquilizer or sedative for non-medical purposes at least once in the previous year.

A 2007 study by the institute found Vicodin abuse by 2.7% of eighth-graders, 7.2% of tenth-graders and 9.6% of twelfth-graders. Abuse of Oxycontin was reported by 1.8% of eighth-graders, 3.9% of tenth-graders and 5.2% of twelfth-graders.

Risk factors for families and drug abuse include:

• dynamics in the home.
  
• level of parental involvement.
• School and neighborhood environment.
• friends of teens who abuse drugs or alcohol.
  

Drug experts say parents, grandparents, other relatives and caregivers must lock up all prescription drugs, keep an inventory of how many pills are in each container and discard unused pills in a safe way.