cure for constipation after buprenorphine please

[thorp]

Dear All

Thank you so much for your help

I had severe RLS and PLMD

Thanks to this forum and a friendly neurologist I have managed to get my GP to prescribe me 0.2 mg Buprenorphine

I have been on these pills for 4 nights. Major improvement in my symptoms

But now I have constipation-which I undertatnd from this forum is a fairly common side effect with buprenorphine

I live in UK

Can someone please tell me what medication is safe to take for constipation -and will not bring my RLS back to life again?

many thanks in advance

[Joolsg]

Magnesium citrate pills last thing at night. And a large portion of cauliflower at least 3 times a week. If that fails, you can try flaxseeds in your cereal.Otherwise, lactulose will be needed from the GP or pharmacy.

I started on 0.2mg but my RLS would break through most evenings and at 5 or 6am

I added another 0.2mg just before sleep and siince then, I've had 100% cover and no RLS.

[thorp in reply to Joolsg]

thank you so much

[Jumpey]

I get constipation with Morphine and use a herbal laxative called TNT.It works for me.

[restlessstoz]

Hi, I also am on buprenorphine (patches) and suffer from constipation if I'm not vigilant. I agree with Joolsg about magnesium which will help. I also take MOVICOL which helps beautifully and very gently as well. It's a powder that is taken mixed with water. It' s not something that is drastic and you can take one, two or more powder sachets until you start working well again, then regulate as needed. I've just looked up and in the UK you need Macrogol Brand names: Movicol, Laxido, CosmoCol, Molaxole. In Australia, it can be prescribed which makes it a cheaper option too. My father, 95, is also on it for his slow bowels due to age and finds it better and more gentle than the syrups he was taking.

Of course, it's also advisable to have high fibre in your diet and not heaps of processed foods but that is a different issue. Figs and prunes have traditionally helped and health food shops will sell a mix of fruits that can be really delicious and have a laxative effect. Oh, and drink plenty of water. That helps the process too.

Psyllium husk is another good one but I find I don't get into as good a routine (in terms of taking it regularly, not the 'regular' effect); with it as with the powders. It's not as convenient for me to take.

For me, Christmas cake, pudding and rich fruity mincemeat are very helpful but come with a lot of calories and high blood sugars so I have to avoid them except as a special treat.

I didn't mean to write a thesis on it but Good luck.

[gobojo]

Try 2 kiwi fruit every day.

[Sleepless82]

I take 2 pills of Senna 8.6 mg (17.2 mg) at bedtime and it works almost every morning. I have also been taking magnesium supplement that has magnesium oxide, calcium , zinc and vitamin D3.

[thorp in reply to Sleepless82]

Thank you everyone for your ideas

much appreciated

[teakabeagle]

If you can switch to Buprenorphine with naloxone that can help with the constipation as it blocks opiod receptors in the bowels. If the opiods don’t attach to the bowel, motility isn’t affected as much.

Miralax 1 tablespoon 3x/ week in your morning beverage,( hot is better ) lots of fluid , exercise, prunes., or whatever foods works for you, will keep the water in the stools and add some bulk, and stimulate peristalsis. Laculose is another osmotic laxitive, , but requires a prescription.

Stimulant laxatives like magnesium citrate, senna work well, but the bowels become dependent on them. Getting the bowels retrained can be very difficult when that happens.

[vikkitennis]

I contacted the GI doctor, and they prescribed Movantik. It works to unbind the opiate from the GI tract. I also use Linzess, 290 mg.