1. < Chronic Pain

Constipation from meds

Posted by mshrink66 @mshrink66, Jan 9 8:23am

I have chronic nerve pain from a couple of failed back surgeries. I have been on Lyrica, Cymbalta and most recently Effexor. It seems that when I get to a therapeutic dose, I get severe constipation. I have tried Metamucil with Colace, and Miralax without success. Seems the only thing that works is s stimulating laxative which I know isn’t good to use long term. Since this is such a common side effect of these meds, has anyone had any success getting around this? These meds really help me so I hate to give up on them. Thank you for any advice!

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covidstinks2023 | @covidstinks2023 | May 20 12:02pm
In reply to @skm101 "I second the magnesium citrate. Works great everytime." + (show)
@skm101

I second the magnesium citrate. Works great everytime.

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Hey There! Not to be rude at all....please no offense to be taken. Milk of Magnesia & Magnesium Citrate are 2 different things. Have a blessed day!

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ratdavid04 | @ratdavid04 | May 21 5:15am
In reply to @cessna150 "Due to terrible pain from radiation for cancer treatment, I've been taking 10 mg of oxycodone..." + (show)
@cessna150

Due to terrible pain from radiation for cancer treatment, I've been taking 10 mg of oxycodone for 4 years...and suddenly began suffering with severe...really severe... daily constipation. My dr recomended a new medication and it's working! It's "Movantik". Ask your doctor. Because it's so new, he/she probably won't know about it... but convince him/her to study it. It's available in both 12 and 25 mg doses. I'm still experimenting with which dosage works best for me.

Hope this works for you. Please let me know if/how it works for you.

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Hi my name is Robin, I was injured on the job in 1997 and I had back surgery in 2009. I had to start taking Oxycodone and over the years I started reducing my dose; however my constipation has not gotten any better. I have tried the Movantik in the past and it has not worked on me. I have tried so many things for constipation, may I ask just to refresh my memory is this a shot?
Robin

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1 reply
vvvalsigkap | @vvvalsigkap | May 21 10:35am

It has taken 1.5 years after 2nd back surgery to get bowels regulated. I now take a daily probiotic and 1,200mg Magnesium tablets nightly. I am also on iron, pain meds, and a keto diet that complicate constipation. But, I am now regular.

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1 reply
afklasen2024 | @afklasen2024 | May 23 8:32am

Cantaloupe after evening meal, or prunes workes for me, and keep records, don't go beyond 3 days without relief.

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1 reply
heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | May 24 6:11am
In reply to @ratdavid04 "Hi my name is Robin, I was injured on the job in 1997 and I had..." + (show)
@ratdavid04

Hi my name is Robin, I was injured on the job in 1997 and I had back surgery in 2009. I had to start taking Oxycodone and over the years I started reducing my dose; however my constipation has not gotten any better. I have tried the Movantik in the past and it has not worked on me. I have tried so many things for constipation, may I ask just to refresh my memory is this a shot?
Robin

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Movantik is a pill used to treat opioid-induced constipation (OIC). I tried it and it didn't work for me.

I now take Relistor for OIC. I also take Motegrity which is supposed to get the intestines moving. They seem to be better but I still have to rely on Dulcolax, and I'd rather not use that.

Resistor is very expensive, but if you're on Social Security income you can get it approved, ask your provider to get you the forms to submit.

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thebeeman | @thebeeman | May 24 11:19am

Hi, I am in the same boat. Been on Percocet for 10 years. My doctor suggested a good Magnesium with a Senna 3 times a day. OMG I use a 400 mg Magnesium and it works incredibly well!!! Now just 1 Magnesium/day and maybe 1 Senna every other day and constipation is history. Plus, it's all natural and good for other health things as well!!
All the Best, Jim

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1 reply
celia16 | @celia16 | May 24 1:02pm
In reply to @thebeeman "Hi, I am in the same boat. Been on Percocet for 10 years. My doctor suggested..." + (show)
@thebeeman

Hi, I am in the same boat. Been on Percocet for 10 years. My doctor suggested a good Magnesium with a Senna 3 times a day. OMG I use a 400 mg Magnesium and it works incredibly well!!! Now just 1 Magnesium/day and maybe 1 Senna every other day and constipation is history. Plus, it's all natural and good for other health things as well!!
All the Best, Jim

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I take 300 mg of Magnesium daily, plus the one cap of Miralax. Not sure how much the Magnesium helps, however I have been instructed to stop all supplements next week for 7 days in prep for an outpatient surgery. Sigh. Don’t want to stop the magnesium, but it works as a blood thinner, from I’ve read. I had no idea.

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2 replies
thebeeman | @thebeeman | May 24 4:33pm
In reply to @celia16 "I take 300 mg of Magnesium daily, plus the one cap of Miralax. Not sure how..." + (show)
@celia16

I take 300 mg of Magnesium daily, plus the one cap of Miralax. Not sure how much the Magnesium helps, however I have been instructed to stop all supplements next week for 7 days in prep for an outpatient surgery. Sigh. Don’t want to stop the magnesium, but it works as a blood thinner, from I’ve read. I had no idea.

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I started with 400 mg Magnesium and the Senna 3 times a day. After about 2 days I realized that was too much for me. Before this, I did the Miralax, Dulcolax, psyllium husks, big salads, coffee, enemas, suppositories, exlax...nothing worked consistently. For me, I am now a happy pooper!!

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jfsherley | @jfsherley | May 25 7:16am

I use to deal with that everyday since I’m on tramadol and Tylenol gabapentin but I learned that the stool softeners are not going to hurt you . I use to take one 100mg every night but it really didn’t help much so now I take 4 - 100mg stool softeners every night plus a half glass of clear lax and it works very good . I go in the mornings plus usually go again after my evening meal . I get the Walmart brand equate stool softener hope this works for you . This past Feb I ended up in the hospital with diverticulitis from being constipated all the time . You may think oh wow that’s a lot to take but it doesn’t hurt me at all matter of fact the pharmacist said the stool softener will not hurt me and that I could take as many as I needed to get the job done

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2 replies
jfsherley | @jfsherley | May 25 7:17am
In reply to @jfsherley "I use to deal with that everyday since I’m on tramadol and Tylenol gabapentin but I..." + (show)
@jfsherley

I use to deal with that everyday since I’m on tramadol and Tylenol gabapentin but I learned that the stool softeners are not going to hurt you . I use to take one 100mg every night but it really didn’t help much so now I take 4 - 100mg stool softeners every night plus a half glass of clear lax and it works very good . I go in the mornings plus usually go again after my evening meal . I get the Walmart brand equate stool softener hope this works for you . This past Feb I ended up in the hospital with diverticulitis from being constipated all the time . You may think oh wow that’s a lot to take but it doesn’t hurt me at all matter of fact the pharmacist said the stool softener will not hurt me and that I could take as many as I needed to get the job done

Jump to this post

Oh and I forgot to mentioned that you can eat one prune every night that helps too

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