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Can Narcotic Pain Killers Cause Chronic Constipation And Nausea?
Question: My husband takes two prescription narcotic pain medications and has for five years. He has lost teeth, deals with chronic constipation, and now nausea. Are all of these the result of the meds? Or are the side effects building off one another?
Brief Answer:
constipation yes, teeth no
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Opiates have effects on the gut... even if they don't get out of the gut (IMODIUM). but they don't have effects on teeth either directly or indirectly. Constipation does not change with time; even if someone gets used to the pain or euphoria effects of narcotics (gets tolerant to them) the constipation stays.
Nausea can be due to several different effects of the narcotics. The part of the brain affected by the narcotics to help pain uses all the same wiring and is almost in the same spot as the part of the brain affected by noxious agents to produce nausea. It is a direct effect of narcotics on the brain.
Also, the narcotics can stimulate the gall bladder. If you have gall bladder problems, the drugs can trigger the problem. You'd expect gall bladder PAIN along with nausea.
All of these effects add up with multiple narcotics having additive effects.
Regards,
constipation yes, teeth no
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Opiates have effects on the gut... even if they don't get out of the gut (IMODIUM). but they don't have effects on teeth either directly or indirectly. Constipation does not change with time; even if someone gets used to the pain or euphoria effects of narcotics (gets tolerant to them) the constipation stays.
Nausea can be due to several different effects of the narcotics. The part of the brain affected by the narcotics to help pain uses all the same wiring and is almost in the same spot as the part of the brain affected by noxious agents to produce nausea. It is a direct effect of narcotics on the brain.
Also, the narcotics can stimulate the gall bladder. If you have gall bladder problems, the drugs can trigger the problem. You'd expect gall bladder PAIN along with nausea.
All of these effects add up with multiple narcotics having additive effects.
Regards,
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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