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Movantik User Reviews & Ratings

Movantik has an average rating of 5.0 out of 10 from a total of 262 reviews on Drugs.com. 37% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 48% reported a negative experience.

Reviews for Movantik

  • Please...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 26, 2017

For Constipation, Drug Induced "Please, please read this before trying any prescription for chronic constipation due to opioid use. Due to a back injury, I have been taking opioids for over 10 years. I had chronic constipation with no relief with anything. Then I read another person's experience with magnesium. The type of magnesium you take is important. You want to take one that has low absorption, so that it will pass right through. I went from having a bowel movement once a week or week and a half to having one daily. I take 1-250mg magnesium oxide and 1 docusate sodium (non-stimulant stool softener) twice a day (same dosage for the last 9 years). You can find these over-the-counter in any drugstore. Unfortunately, a physician won't tell you this."

1 / 10
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  • KennyG
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • May 17, 2020

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "Movantik has been a life-saver for me. I've been on opioid treatment for years and can't tell you how many times I've been scared to death because my medication causes me to back up. I've used stimulant laxatives almost daily, and they don't always work (and can cause long-term motility problems if used frequently). Movantik worked immediately when I first tried it; the first day it did cause cramping and some discomfort, but I was so relieved that the discomfort was worth it. After that first day, it hasn't caused any discomfort and has allowed me to get back to normal and not have the constant anxiety about getting a blockage. I've seen a number of reviews talk about discomfort and cramping, but for me that only happened the first day and my quality of life has been greatly improved since then."

10 / 10
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  • DontG...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • November 13, 2019

For Constipation, Drug Induced "This medicine Movantik works for my constipation in an hour or less. The side effects aren't that bad most days compared to the nightmare of constipation. The first time I took it I would say I was in really bad for about 6 hours. The next day I was hesitant but knew that side effects from medication do lessen with time. So, I took it again and was awful for 3 hours. I took it for a 3rd time and was able to go within the hour with a bearable amount of cramping. Some days I do have cramps but they are not the nightmare I started with. If for some reason I skip taking it for a few days I can have cramping and sweating, etc. so I try not to miss many. If constipation is ruining your life, this medicine can help. I recommend trying to get through the first few times, remembering that side effects can lessen when your body gets used to medicine. That is my experience. I hope everyone who reads this is able to get help also. Believe me, I know the nightmare you must be in if you are reading this."

7 / 10
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102 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Fredd...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • January 16, 2021

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I can understand both negative and positive reactions to Movantik. I have experienced both. The first time I had cramps and went immediately. This is while using heroin. During the beginning of the pandemic, copping fentanyl and dope in the street was getting dangerous and hard. So after years of not doing methadone, I got back on. It works differently with methadone. What I do is I cut them in half. I take half in the morning on an empty stomach an hour before my methadone dose, and at night I take the rest. After 20 years of experiencing horrible constipation, chronic inflammation, and severe fatigue, depression, now I go 3 times a day, I lost 50 pounds, and I changed to a plant-based diet. Movantik in combination with diet and exercise can be a lifesaver. Stick with it."

10 / 10
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  • Clay
  • January 24, 2020

For Constipation, Drug Induced "I have had chronic constipation for many years due to Morphine ER and Oxycodone that I use for a bad back. I have used every OTC laxative with little to no success. My doctor prescribed Movantik 12.5 mg and it has worked great! I do have minor withdrawal symptoms, but nothing like described in other reviews. The one thing I can recommend is that you take first thing in the morning before you take opioids. After you have had a BM then take your opioids and everything should be fine. In my opinion, this medication is a lifesaver for people that experience chronic constipation."

9 / 10
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89 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

  • Alice
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 2, 2020

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "Movantik is the worst experience I have ever had. Within 20 minutes of taking it, I was doubled over with severe stomach cramps, nausea, sweating profusely, shortness of breath, and thought I was going to pass out! But after all this, still no BM. It has been over an hour, still having stomach cramps, nausea, and sweating. I WILL NEVER TAKE MOVANTIK AGAIN! I WISH I HAD NEVER TAKEN THE ONE PILL! You should really think about it before you try this drug. It was one of the absolutely worst experiences of my life!"

1 / 10
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78 Report
  • Hope
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 19, 2023

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I felt I needed to write this review considering how many negative reviews there are out there for this drug. (There are very few good/positive ones.) Hopefully, those like me will give it a try. My experience so far has been great. I’ve been taking Percocet 10’s, muscle relaxers, and gabapentin daily for the past 22 years due to 24/7 chronic pain. I have severe constipation. I never go on my own without taking something to make me go. I have advanced to taking prescription medications via the doctor. But either they don’t work or eventually stop working for me. I took the first dose in the morning, one hour before any other meds. Had a small bowel movement within 20 mins. After eating a couple of hours later, had a large bowel movement. No withdrawals and very few cramps/stomach pains. (FYI: It was sudden.)"

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  • peaks
  • March 9, 2021

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "So my issue was horrible. I could go 10+ days with no BM, bloating, and feeling like I'm walking around with a watermelon in my tummy 24/7. It was very painful. I take two pills every day, no matter the time. The first few days there was a bit of discomfort, but that's to be expected with all that's stopped up in your system. The big difference is that the stools are finally soft - no more pushing or just sitting there on the toilet for goodness knows how long, getting fissures and other butt issues which are just as painful. Maybe the dose has to do with weight or I have an iron stomach after being on meds for so long, but Movantik is a godsend. I may not go every single day, but I will take it every other day and a little cramping to clear myself out, also H2O H2O H2O..."

7 / 10
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61 Report
  • Lumbar
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • February 5, 2017

For Constipation, Drug Induced "Wow, this drug gets your GI tract moving. Daily opioid user for chronic pain and constipation was becoming such a problem, I gave in and got some samples from my Dr. 2 hours later relief! THE NEGATIVE REVIEWS HERE claiming pain and cramping.... yes after immobilizing your bowels with opioids for extended periods giving them a kick in the pants isn't going to feel good (but it will clean you out)"

9 / 10
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105 Report
  • Hersh...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 12, 2018

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "People...please do not start with a complete pill! I take a quarter piece every other day and have been blown away with how effective this medication has been. I didn't know my body could hold that much!"

9 / 10
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86 Report
  • EWK
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • March 10, 2024

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "Pretty good but not for everyday use. Chronic pain guy (about 14 years, since 2010) due to lumbar spine problems with multiple fusion surgeries. First time I tried it, I had minimal withdrawal symptoms and it emptied me out. Very nice! After about three weeks of daily use, I found it to be no longer effective. Now I take one 25 mg tablet every one to two weeks, usually first thing on Fri or Sat. Helps keep things under control and reasonably okay, and allows my body to respond properly each time I take it. You have to hydrate and get some roughage in your system if you’re a continual opioid user. Not fun but I’m able to function & support my family."

7 / 10
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  • Skold...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 15, 2017

For Constipation, Drug Induced "Like many people who have commented, I have been on heavy doses of opioids for 20 years with severe constipation. My doctor recommended Movantik, which I took exactly as directed. Unfortunately, I experienced horrible side effects including terrible cramping, diarrhea, sweating, hot flashes, and essentially the misery of full-blown withdrawal. I now have a huge bottle of Movantik that will likely collect dust forever. I will try everything else before considering that again."

1 / 10
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  • Owano
  • December 5, 2019

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I've taken this pill 2x months apart. Both docs insisted it wouldn't put me into ANY form of withdrawal, gut or otherwise. I took a whole pill the 1st time & it sent me right into withdrawal. Blood pressure up, sweats, cold, anxious, restless legs/body, awful. On top of that, it gave me horrendous stomach pains. I was crying & moaning, it felt like labor pains almost, plus nausea. I couldn't take care of my daughter. Took extra methadone, but it didn't help. 7 hrs later I was cleaned out but exhausted & scared, but it finally slowed down, still had mild cramps for hrs after. 2nd time I took less than half a pill & it was the same, except I wasn't in as bad of withdrawal. I vomited so hard & painfully over & over, was seeing double, I didn't get cleaned out, I ended up just having a normal-sized bowel movement. Headache both times. Want so badly to not be constipated anymore that I want to see if it gets easier, but I am so scared. Nothing works. I don't know what to do..."

2 / 10
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  • Ann
  • September 27, 2015

For Constipation, Drug Induced "I was given samples of the 25mg dose for constipation due to methadone. I took it as prescribed, 2 hours after a meal. Within an hour, I was vomiting, had severe diarrhea, and horrible stomach cramps. I ended up calling an ambulance and spending 2 days in the hospital. All my electrolytes were out of balance, my temperature dropped to 95, I was so dehydrated they could barely get blood out of me. They kept a heart monitor on me the entire time I was in the hospital. I had to be put on morphine, the pain was so bad. I was released after 2 days but am now just starting to eat again. I am usually very tolerant of new medications, but this one could have killed me. I would NEVER recommend this to anyone."

1 / 10
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104 Report
  • Grand...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • April 6, 2016

For Constipation, Drug Induced "Like most of you, I just could not go, and when I did I was stranded on the pot wishing for a quick death. I tried everything, but I am taking Morphine, muscle relaxers, neurontin and more...nothing worked. Finally I asked my doctor about Movantik. He wrote me a script immediately, sent me home with samples too. Mind you, I had not gone for over a week, day one with Movantik and I had a religious experience on the pot. I did have the cramps and lots of gas but the trade-off was worth it. I am on my second month with Movantik and can say it is truly a blessing to poop again. So sorry most of these posts are such bad experiences. I have nothing but happy feelings for this super pooper drug."

10 / 10
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99 Report
  • Bobby
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • August 3, 2020

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "This Movantik was a godsend for me. Pain medication caused severe constipation to the point I was taking stimulant laxatives almost daily with only minimal success. The first day of taking 12.5 mg Movantik, I had some severe cramping and stomach pain, but it worked. After the first day, I had no more cramps. I’ve found it works best if you take it first thing in the morning. When I’ve taken it later in the day, it seems to do nothing, and if you stop taking it for several days, you go back to day one as far as cramps go. It’s not perfect, but it’s a godsend for people on opioids who have almost panicked to death because of days of no motility. Highly recommend, just know on Day 1 you may have discomfort due to days/weeks of backlog."

9 / 10
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  • Anony...
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • April 29, 2019

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I have been on Percocet and hydrocodone for 4 years and have severe constipation. I also take Movantik. There is a trick to this. You take Movantik first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. I also take a laxative the night before, even though Movantik says not to. I go to the bathroom within 20-30 minutes every single morning. Yes, Movantik causes opioid withdrawal, it is an opioid antagonist. However, if you take a laxative the night before, you will go quickly after taking it, so withdrawals are only 30 minutes to an hour. Withdrawals can be pretty tough at first. However, once I use the bathroom, I immediately take opioids to offset Movantik. If you don't, you will remain in withdrawal. For me, the relief of using the bathroom is worth an hour of discomfort, especially."

8 / 10
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57 Report
  • Frodo...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • September 23, 2016

For Constipation, Drug Induced "Do not take this medication!!! 30 minutes after I took it, I had the worst stomach cramps and pains I have ever encountered. Finally, after I got everything out, I started feeling withdrawal symptoms. I tried to take my Methadone dose so the withdrawal would go away, but it didn't help. I'm sitting here right now wondering how long this stays in my system and thinking about how bad I want to curse my doctor out. I just wanted to relieve myself, not go into full withdrawal. What the heck?!"

1 / 10
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74 Report
  • Queene
  • November 24, 2019

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "My doctor put me on this medicine because I couldn’t go to the bathroom. I took one pill at 6:30 in the morning, by 10 o'clock, I had gone to the bathroom three times. My stomach hurt so bad I couldn’t stand it, it was that way for hours. I got a real weird feeling in my body: shaking, cold, anxious, sick to my stomach. Twelve hours later, I’m still sick to my stomach, cold and anxious. I only took one pill, and the rest are going in the garbage. This pill should be taken off the market."

1 / 10
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  • JWD
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 25, 2015

For Constipation, Drug Induced "Amitiza has worked well for over two years to control constipation which is a direct result of opioids taken for pain control. However, my doctor gave me a box of Movantik to try instead. NEVER AGAIN! Within a short period of time, my colon began cramping for several hours. Initially, I hoped that a bowel movement would reduce the pain. It did not! I then got diarrhea. Not wanting to call 911, I tried to breathe deeply as I went from chills to sweats to chills & the cramping continued. Praying not to throw up, but when I did, it was SO VIOLENT that it went through one of my nostrils. I had peritonitis 20 years ago, and it is a toss-up which was worse. Childbirth wasn't as severe. I'll never again try this pill even at a lesser dosage."

1 / 10
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  • MzCat
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • October 2, 2015

For Constipation, Drug Induced "After using Relistor shots as needed for my OIC (opioid-induced constipation) (which caused extreme stomach cramps and diarrhea, but it's very effective), my PM doc put me on Movantik. I didn't see results that were nearly as drastic, but it seemed to kind of work. It seems that my pain meds aren't as effective with Movantik in my system. I've had withdrawal symptoms: sweats, cramping, anxiety, yawning profusely, agitation, and my anxiety level has gone through the roof. Not worth it. It's produced BMs on occasion, but I'll stick to my stool softeners, laxatives, and drinking lots of water. I don't like the idea of having another addictive drug in my body to counteract symptoms from the first one. And feeling like crap is not a good trade. GOOD LUCK!"

5 / 10
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  • hicks...
  • November 23, 2019

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "Given 25 mg samples for OIC. Within 30 minutes, had a bowel movement. Within 45 minutes, was in full-blown opioid withdrawal despite my doctor's reassurances that this wouldn't happen. Had to call an ambulance. Was given 20 mg oxycodone and 1 mg lorazepam at ER. After 3 hours of ER treatment, the horror subsided. DON'T TAKE THIS DRUG!"

1 / 10
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45 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for 1 to 2 years
  • August 24, 2020

For Constipation, Drug Induced "This drug seriously interferes with my pain medication of oxy and oxycodone/acetaminophen. I have to take these simultaneously for them to work on my pain, so I don't know which drug or if both drugs are blocked from working when I take Movantik. If it didn't have this awful effect, I would say the drug is fairly efficient. I found that it stops working when you take it every day and then will only work if you alternate days or even every two days before you will get results."

6 / 10
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  • Spikeys...
  • June 8, 2015

For Constipation, Drug Induced "Long-term use of opiates for chronic back pain had given me constipation so severe, it caused a rectal prolapse. I recently had a subtotal colectomy, yet the cramping, gas, and constipation continued. My pain management NP recently gave me samples of the 25 mg tabs. I am thrilled to report that after 3 days of being on this drug, my constipation has responded very favorably, with no obvious side effects so far. I was previously using Relistore inj., which only worked sporadically at best, and with excessive cramping. I also take Linzess which, along with a recent subtotal colectomy, has improved my colonic inertia caused by the years of narcotic use. This new drug is truly a Godsend for me!"

10 / 10
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70 Report
  • MS...
  • September 19, 2015

For Constipation, Drug Induced "I've had very severe constipation for years due to my daily need for oxycodone and morphine. I've tried everything with little relief, so that's why I gave this a try. It was the worst day of my life! I took it first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. About 30 minutes after taking it, I had a bowel movement... yeah, right? About 2 minutes after, I started having SEVERE intestinal cramps! So bad I could hardly breathe! I also got severe chills and had goosebumps all over my body. I continued to have a bowel movement every 15-20 minutes for the next 3 hours. The whole time, having extremely painful cramping, nausea, sweats, chills, goosebumps... It cleaned me out, that's for sure. But it was not worth the pain, and it wiped me out the whole day!!"

2 / 10
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67 Report

Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or to remove inappropriate language and content. Reviews that appear to be created by parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any particular medication. While these reviews may be helpful, they are not a substitute for the expertise, knowledge, and judgement of healthcare professionals.