opioids

AGA Releases New Guideline on Opioid-Induced Constipation Treatment

According to the American Gastroenterological Association’s (AGA’s) new set of guideline, traditional laxatives should be the first-line agent in treating patients with opioid-induced constipation (OIC).1

 

For patients who do not respond to traditional laxatives, the AGA recommends treating patients with peripherally acting mu-opioid receptor antagonist drugs, including naldemedine, naloxegol, or methylnatrexone, which are known to improve bowel symptoms without compromising pain relief.

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“Physicians have struggled with treating this condition due to previous lack of clinical guidance,” said Seth D. Crockett, MD, MPH, co-author of the AGA guideline. “The new AGA guideline clarifies existing data and provides clear direction for physicians on how to best treat opioid-induced constipation.”2 

 

The publication comes as an estimated 5% of Americans are regularly taking opioids; between 40% and 60% of these individuals have OIC.

 

“Opioid overuse has become a public health crisis in America. What the public often doesn’t hear about are just how common gastrointestinal side effects, especially constipation, are in opioid users,” Crockett said.2

References:

  1. Crockett SD, Greer KB, Heidelbaugh JJ, Falck-Ytter Y, Hanson BJ, Sultan S; American Gastroenterological Association Institute Clinical Guidelines Committee. American Gastroenterological Association Institute guideline on the medical management of opioid-induced constipation [published online October 16, 2018]. Gastroenterology. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2018.07.016.
  2. Medical management of opioid-induced constipation differs from other forms of condition [press release]. Bethesda, MD: American Gastroenterological Association; October 17, 2018. https://www.gastro.org/press-release/medical-management-of-opioid-induced-constipation-differs-than-for-other-forms-of-the-condition-1. Accessed October 18, 2018.