Opioid-based narcotics are a common type of pain killer, encompassing agents such as the most well-known morphine, but also others like codeine, and the infamous oxycodone. The compounds bind to what are known as opioid receptors on the surface of cells in the nervous system and gastrointestinal tract.
When the opioid compounds reach their target, they cause a reduction in perception of pain. But it seems that they do more than inhibit pain, they also induce a feeling of euphoria in some people. This is one reason why doctors are hesitant to treat their patients for fear of addicting them. There are other problems though.
One problem is that some people benefiting from pain-killing analgesics also suffer from incidental constipation. The condition is neither treatable by standard fiber treatments nor more powerful laxative agents. Causes of opioid-derived constipation are unknown to the consternation of many in the medical field.
The global pharmaceutical firm Wyeth and its partner Progenics actually sells a pharmaceutical product named Relistor that is used for controlling constipation induced by analgesic usage. It comes in a syringe-like, injectable form which is prescribed to people who are not helped by conventional laxatives.
For sufferers looking for natural treatments for constipation, there are a few options. A first tactic that even a primary care doctor may bring up is the increase of dietary fiber. A possible path to put into action this line of therapy is to emphasize fruits and vegetables with the most fiber content. Prunes are a good choice, contributing plenty of fiber but in addition sorbitol which seems synergistic with fiber.
Some will discover that the attention required to eat high fiber foods to be quite intense. A solution to address this is to take a look at the various widely used dietary fiber supplements. They are sold under brand names like metamucil and often are formulated in powdered forms of grain like the plantago.
The site talks about how to select natural laxatives for constipation. The site discusses how to choose castor oil laxatives.
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