How do you deal with pain meds and constipation? Great idea below...

I've read a zillion places that drinking more water is the best solution to this problem. Weirdly, I found myself drinking LESS lately and have to remind myself. This is my FIRST experience with constipation due to a pain med and it is uncomfortable and even painful. Fortunately once this wisdom tooth infection and extraction is over with, I should be rid of it. I really feel for folks that suffer chronically from this condition. It's the pits!

How many do you typically eat? I am about to have foot surgery and have been prescribed a pain med that I above been warned causes constipation.

where do u get them?

just a comment some one told me in a same stuation that constipation is not sicknes it's just a condition, does this condition come to un end or it's a condition you get to live with the rest of your life.

man they are a lot of folks not going ! pain meds are the worst to cause constipation !but i've found that drinking plenty of water and miralax works great!

Meggieprice,
I am sorry something went wrong with the computer for a minute and I think that I lost the post so I am going to try again, I have tried many things when it comes to Constipation due to narcotics, Senokot-S has been one that worked pretty well for me but my parents are from Tennessee and I have a feeling that this would have originated from someone down there, maybe not. regardless, I am going to give it a try, I recently was changed to a new pain medicine, it helped with pain but it was difficult to cope with when it come to constipation, therefore the doctor arranged to try another medication which responds well to laxatives and for pain, I have friended you and I am going to write once I try this and let you know how it affected me. I wish you the very best and appreciate your suggestion. My first name is Billy my site name is

I use Seena Plus (cheaper than Senakot) at CVS but it works the brand name is expensive this is probably $6 and a little over depending on the size I have been told this does not help everyone the apricots sound like a thing I would try the Senna plus takes about 6-8 hours for me I imagine its different for everyone, I have heard about Miralaz which isn't strong and over the counter MS contin seems to be one that really constipates me and I can't use it please take good care and keep us posted

thanks for the info I am on the patch and am having lots of trouble with this!!!

Hi. This is only the 2nd time I've ever posted, but I feel I am an expert in this area since I have been taking a lot of morphine for almost a decade:

Two things: 1. eat as close to a cup of Allbran as you can get down every day. This works great! Better than fibercon or other powders and pills.

2. If you still need help, then get your doc to prescribe Miralax (polyethylene glycol is the generic, I think). Also drink lots and lots of water

Water, lots of water and fiber is a key to keeping your stool moist as possible and not rock hard when it does arrive (smile) The Miralax retains water in the bowel and has proven a godsend for me.

Personally, I find that a 250mg tablet of Magnesium twice a day helps me. It seems to draw water to your digestive system. If you look it up, Magnesium is one of the most important minerals that most people don't get enough of. It is essential for many body functions. I am usually deficient in Magnesium at blood test time. This went unnoticed by my doctor, or at least she didn't comment on it. It turns out that my terrible muscle cramps in large areas of my back were the result of not enough Magnesium. What a simple and cheap cure. This was my own trial and error that helped me. My Neurologist ordered up an MRI for the cramping in my back. What a waste of money. Seems like most doctors want to order up tests for just about everything instead of using some common sense and looking at simple blood test results and trying some basic common sense attempts at curing something instead of always trying to treat symptoms and order expensive tests and prescribe expensive liver killing drugs. Just my 2 cents.

My friend is taking Docusate 50 mg with Senna 8.6 mg for constipation from Oxycodon. The pharmacist recommended it. The Docusate comes together with Senna and is about $5 at the clinic pharmacy. It says take 2-4 tablets, but my friend found taking one was enough. It's always better to use something natural, but if that doesn't work, try this. :0)

Try chocolate. It also makes you feel good.

A guy use to live next door to me and my father was over visiting. This neighbor took pain meds pretty heavy and one day he wanted to borrow my home phone. My father was out in the yard and brought him the phone (I swear, this really happened!!! ) and this guy dialed a number and screamed, "man, come on, just bring me one, I need it!!! " and he squatted down (still on the phone screaming) in HIS front yard and did accomplish the most trying attempt to relieve his constipation (that is how my dad explained it). I just thought to myself how I would never torture myself like that for a pain pill (he was a bad addict, one that deserved a recent common label). I do not think I would put my body, mind or soul through that, and let's not forget the self respect... HIS FRONT YARD!!! =P