top of page
Managing Constipation
Opioids slow down your gut and draw water out of your stool (poop). This makes your stool hard and difficult to pass, which is called constipation. Constipation is the most common side effect of opioids.
If you notice that your bowel movements are smaller, harder, or less frequent than usual, you are constipated. Constipation often makes people feel bloated and uncomfortable. It can lower appetite, cause nausea (upset stomach), belly cramps, and worsen pain.
Constipation can be a vicious cycle: the longer you wait to treat it, the harder it is to get moving again. Believe it or not, if constipation gets bad enough it can even send a person to the hospital. Don’t worry, we’re here to help so that it doesn’t become a big problem for you.
Stool becomes hard
Stool is difficult to pass
Water leaves stool
Stool stays in rectum longer
Constipation
Laxatives help break this cycle!
Here are some helpful tips for staying regular:
-
Always follow the instructions on your prescription bottle.Never take a higher dose of your opioids, or take them more often than prescribed. Instructions on medicine bottles can be confusing. Short-acting opioids are often prescribed with a range of doses you can take. For example: “Take 1-2 tablets every 3 hours as needed for pain.” This means it’s OK to take up to 2 tablets within a 3-hour time window. You can also choose to take less than this, or not take it at all (if your pain is controlled). Take them with a sip of water, with or without food.
-
Take them when you have pain and need quick relief.These take about 30 minutes to start working and 1 ½ hour to get the most relief, so take them early on when you feel your pain creeping up.
-
If you don’t have pain, don’t take them.If your pain is manageable and you don’t expect it to get worse, you shouldn’t take this medicine. It should be used “as needed” when you have pain.
-
Take them before your pain gets severe.Try to “stay ahead” of your pain by taking your short-acting opioid early on when you notice your pain getting worse. If you wait until your pain is severe, it often takes more medication and a longer time to get your pain under control. Pay attention to your body as you learn about your pain and how you react to opioids. Most people start recognizing their body’s signals about when they need to take their short-acting opioid for breakthrough pain.
-
Choose the dose that matches your pain level.Most short-acting opioid prescriptions have a range of doses you can choose to take within a given time-period. A common example is take 1-2 tablets every 3 hours as needed. If your pain is severe, start with the higher dose (for example: 2 tablets). If your pain is less severe, you can start with the lower dose (for example: 1 tablet). If your pain isn’t significantly better after 30 minutes to an hour, you can take the rest of the dose.
-
Take them about 30 minutes before painful activities.Some people know they will have pain with certain activities, like walking or taking a long car ride. Think of activities that usually worsen your pain. To help you be more active, you may want to take your short-acting opioid 30 minutes beforehand.
-
If your short-acting opioid is not working well, talk to your care team.Every person is different and it can take some time to find the right medicines and right doses for you. Your care team might decide to increase the dose of your opioid or change to a different medication. The important thing is to let them know how you are doing.
bottom of page