Patients receiving opioids for pain usually require additional pharmacological treatment for opioid-induced constipation

摘要

Constipation is a frequent reason for sub-optimal dosages or non-compliance in patients receiving opioid therapy. Non-pharmacological interventions are generally inadequate to treat opioid-induced constipation, and most patients will require pharmacological treatment with laxatives and/or opioid receptor antagonists and/or a switch to an alternative opioid.