BMJ clinical evidence
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BMJ clinical evidence · Sep 2015
ReviewConstipation: opioid antagonists in people prescribed opioids.
Constipation is a common adverse effect of opioids. As an example, constipation is reported in 52% of people with advanced malignancy, and this figure rises to 87% in people who are terminally ill and taking opioids. There is no reason to believe that people with chronic non-malignant disease who are prescribed opioids will be any less troubled by this adverse effect. ⋯ In this systematic overview we categorised the efficacy for three interventions based on information relating to the effectiveness of alvimopan, methylnaltrexone, and naloxone.