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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szucker99 | @szucker99 | May 25 7:33am

These suggestions are so helpful and reassuring. I also ended up with diviticulitis and want to do everything to prevent that from happening again! I am trying the senokot now but it sounds like I need to get on the magnesium bandwagon. I need a reliable routine.

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cantek | @cantek | May 25 8:36am
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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Senna Tea ( Smooth Move) works for me first thing in the morning if I dont go for two days.

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1kay2 | @1kay2 | May 25 4:53pm
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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Instead of taking another drug, I take a spoonful of flax in my cereal and eat 5 or 6 prunes at lunch as recommended by my doctor and usually remain regular. I do hope what you are doing works for you.

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tony1946 | @tony1946 | May 26 9:18am
In reply to @pb50 "I too have medication related constipation. After 7 months of diarrhea from microscopic colitis before treatment,..." + (show)
@pb50

I too have medication related constipation. After 7 months of diarrhea from microscopic colitis before treatment, I try not to complain too loudly, but here is my formula. It may need to be adjusted for severity of symptoms.

I eat two salads a day - that’s six cups of salad. Mine is a combination of iceberg, spinach and romaine with no ingredients that are known to enhance constipation. Otherwise, tomato, bacon, corn, etc - think volume.

I try to eat other veggies at lunch or dinner that might be considered roughage - think broccoli or cabbage (raw as in slaw), etc.

I drink eight 8ounce glasses of water over the day. I fill a half gallon container in the morning and put it on the kitchen island to make sure I drink all through the day.

At bedtime:
* a 100mg decorate sodium stool softener
* four benefiber gummies

Worst case, I go every other day. But more days than not, I go before 10am.

It’s not the set your clock by it, 6:30am predictable event anymore. But I need the meds causing the constipation, so…

Hope that’s helpful.

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Yes on lots of meds and transit time matters! Food putrifies when sitting in the gut. Allegedly a cause for diseases like cancer.
Prunes in the Am and pm, Metamucil
Caps 7-8 day and drink lots of water but most importantly drink George’s Aloe Vera water every night. It is amazing , natural tastes and looks like water but stimulates the bowel lining to stimulate movement . An ounce or 2 a day or half a glass if you are blocked. Amazing stuff from the Aloe plant. Only George’s clear aloe water works for sure. Some aloe water lose this capability through processing.
Good luck.
Tony

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marquis113 | @marquis113 | May 26 9:49am
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

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Be careful with tramadol. I was on it for 10 years and now have gastroparesis and restless legs. It was extremely hard to get off this drug.

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1kay2 | @1kay2 | May 26 3:44pm
In reply to @afklasen2024 "Cantaloupe after evening meal, or prunes workes for me, and keep records, don't go beyond 3..." + (show)
@afklasen2024

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

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I agree with prunes and also flax on my morning cereal.

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thebeeman | @thebeeman | May 27 12:23pm

I have Central Sensitization in my lower back for 10 years now. The only relief I get is from Percocet. The constipation has been a battle!! I have a shelf full of everything from enema bag to Exlax. My primary doctor suggested 400 to 1200 mg Magnesium with a common dose Senna pill 3 times a day to start. By the second day I was completely clean of poop!! Now just 1 or two 400 mg Magnesium and 1 Senna and I go 2 to 4 times a day!! It's not another man made drug with side effects. All natural with other beneficial effects our bodies need. Hope this helps!!!

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1 reply
pondguy | @pondguy | May 29 9:08am

Try Chia seed. I grind up the seeds in a coffee grinder and mix a tbs. with 8 oz of water. It'll turn into a viscous tasteless liquid. I down 3 tbs. a day, one with each meal. Works for me.

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harley22 | @harley22 | May 30 11:25am
In reply to @thebeeman "I have Central Sensitization in my lower back for 10 years now. The only relief I..." + (show)
@thebeeman

I have Central Sensitization in my lower back for 10 years now. The only relief I get is from Percocet. The constipation has been a battle!! I have a shelf full of everything from enema bag to Exlax. My primary doctor suggested 400 to 1200 mg Magnesium with a common dose Senna pill 3 times a day to start. By the second day I was completely clean of poop!! Now just 1 or two 400 mg Magnesium and 1 Senna and I go 2 to 4 times a day!! It's not another man made drug with side effects. All natural with other beneficial effects our bodies need. Hope this helps!!!

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My problem is that it literally takes a bomb to make me go.
The cramping is so painful, but at least I go
Problem is after that I seem to go constantly for a day or more.
Then I get constipated all over again and don’t go for days.
It’s a vicious cycle.

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