Wednesday, October 10, 2007

An Issue of Fairness

I, for one, do not think it is fair that pain medication causes constipation.

Who is in charge of this?

16 Comments:

Blogger Jennifer said...

Probably American-based Big Pharm. If only we were allowed to pay triple for their already hugely expensive products, maybe they could research the constipation factor out of pain meds.

Or maybe it's the doc's fault?

I always wondered, as a young college student, why a scrip for Monistat wasn't given with every course of antibiotics. Likewise, if a doctor had an ounce of foresight, perhaps he/she would prescribe 30 grams of dietary fiber taken with extra water each time pain meds are dispensed.

The whole medical/pharmacological system is bound up, isn't it?

Wishing you love, prune juice, and freedom from pain.

12:33 PM  
Blogger Kim said...

Well, thank you darling. And I couldn't agree more...

1:24 PM  
Blogger Ahenobarbus said...

We the People.

6:07 PM  
Blogger Miss Cellania said...

Yuck. I'm sorry.

7:33 PM  
Blogger Ally said...

Prunes. They'll do the trick.

Sympathies.

11:37 PM  
Blogger Lizard said...

sadly, the fiber won't help. it's a motility issue-- the pain meds actually anesthetize the gut as well as everything else. nothing is moving.... literally.

milk of magnesia can help some-- take the full dose listed on the bottle-- and it is your best bet, unless your doc prefers something else. You can mix m-o-m with smushed ice cream for better flavor, BTW.

And I always talk about yeast infection treatment when I prescribe antibiotics. that, and decreasing efficacy of birth control pills, which can being even nastier surprises.

hope you feel better in all ways very soon.

6:02 PM  
Blogger fineartist said...

Heeeeeeeeeeee! Yeah, why can't they put a little laxative in there with the dope? Huh?

10:26 PM  
Blogger Mary Ellen said...

Could it be that our politicians also suffer from this constipation? They do seem to be all full of shit.

7:01 PM  
Blogger XUP said...

The answer is, of course, pharma companies. it is in their best interests to never make any drug that doesn't have at least one serious side effect for which you will require at least one other drug. Ensures perpetual drug reliance and a steady stream of customers -- you all probably think I'm kidding. (Thanks for finding me, Annie, because it led to your blog which I'm going to enjoy very much)

5:59 PM  
Blogger One Wacky Mom said...

Oh my sistas....I think you have hit on something a tad brilliant...see if you can talk to J&J about putting laxatives in their pain medications...for us old farts!


Ah pray tell I dare say we'd be addicted to all pain meds forever...

1:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

but then you wouldn't sit around waiting to move things along...

speaking of that...anyone ever going to post anything else here?

5:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Ah .. you must be on opiates. Personally, I like 'em, because they work and they're one of the few painkillers I can take, but yeah, they do affect gut motility. Having said that, my MIL swore that even paracetamol caused her to be constipated, so maybe it's not opiates...

Anyway, I swear by dried figs and Panda liquorice.

Hugs to you.

5:42 PM  
Blogger Penny M said...

You could try asking your doctor about Movicol. It is used to relieve the constipation caused by Ondansetron, which also anaesthetises the gut

4:13 PM  
Blogger Lisa said...

I'm a lurker but just wanted you to know how much I have enjoyed your blog. Thanks for all the giggles!
;-)
Lisa

1:54 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

so, did vicodin stop you and the blog up completely? Miss the oosts!

9:29 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Who's in charge? Your mu opioid receptors, that's who.

5:08 AM  

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