I am new to Relistor and experiencing concerning side effects. Is this normal?

I have had terrible results with relistor. It acts by letting water into the bowels, so it's not a stimulant like senna or dulcolax. I have been on/off for 2 years. I just did another regimen of it where I was injecting every other day for 6 days or until I had a BM. It was actually the first time it worked, after the fourth injection and the onset of the cramp and nausea was sudden. I ran to the bathroom and layed on the freezing tiles until I could go. It's not worth the agony for me. I am also on another prescription called Amitizia which also opens chloride channels so water can move into the bowels as well as dulcolax as I do need a stimulant due to the amount of narcotics I'm on. So, that last trial of Relistor was in co junction with amitizia and 4 dulcolax twice a day. I've had to go to the ER twice as I was so backed up and Relistor was not working.

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It's only been studied for four months as it has primarily been used in a hospital setting post surgery so someone will not get obstructed or in hospice populations. I work in an ICU so I am privy to some info that the general population is not and my GI doc is so kind that she too was very open and honest about it. She said I'm too young to be on something where the long term side effects are not known. So, with that being said I am still struggling to find a bowel regimen that works. I was taking 12 senna a year ago, colace and amitizia and still not going every day. It's horrible. My biggest fear is ending up not being able to go on my own soon requiring an ileostomy. I read some good posts earlier about dried apricots without sulphur (can get them at Whole Foods or any natural grocer) as well as baby food prunes. Going to try that next. Best of luck. I'll add you to my friends and can let you know how things are going when I find the magical regimen. What you are experiencing is normal. Do you have opiate related constipation? Your doc is probably not giving you much support because most know very little about it. Sorry you're going through this. Been there.