advise patients taking opioid analgesics how to prevent and treat constipation

October 1999

It's extremely important to advise patients taking opioid analgesics how to prevent and treat constipation.

Constipation can occur in as few as 3 to 5 days...especially in patients who are inactive after surgery, an accident, etc.

Stimulant laxatives are usually needed to counteract the decrease in GI motility caused by opioids.

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Table of Contents

Internet pharmacy is exploding
Asthma Advair, the first inhaler that combines BOTH a long-acting bronchodilator (salmeterol) and corticosteroid (fluticasone)
Diabetes monitor their average WEEKLY blood sugar at home
cautioning that glucosamine might increase blood sugar in patients with diabetes
minocycline or doxycycline for rheumatoid arthritis
Hypertension a new drug for hypertension, Micardis (telmisartan)
treat EARLY stages of Parkinson's with a dopamine agonist
new warnings about sudden sleep attacks in patients taking Mirapex (pramipexole)
HPB is taking Cylert (pemoline) off the market in Canada
Gastroenterology advise patients taking opioid analgesics how to prevent and treat constipation
Infectious Diseases Monurol (fosfomycin), the first SINGLE-dose antibiotic for bladder infections
Infectious Diseases a new topical cream for external genital and perianal warts called Aldara (imiquimod)
Women's Health topical progesterone creams
Women's Health routine screening of pregnant women for hypothyroidism
Hematology & Oncology using Celebrex (celecoxib) and similar drugs to prevent and treat colon cancer
Antithrombotics long-term warfarin might increase the risk of bone fractures