Hi Jim,
I've been taking oxycontin & oxycodone for a little over a month. Like with other opiods, constipation is unfortunately an issue that you will have to deal with, especially if you start increasing your oxycontin. My doctor recommended that I take metamucil or citricel (sp?) twice a day. I've been taking the metamucil capsules, 5 twice a day is the starting dose for constipation. It is alright, but I don't really have much to compare it to. I also have miralax on hand incase things get bad, as a few people here recommended it. Fortunately, I haven't had to use it yet, although I'm sure the time will come.
I also just started a new "diet" if you will. I read somewhere that eating seeds & nuts are great for constipation, so I went to the store the other week & got flax seeds (these are supposed to be the best, you can also buy them ground into powder), sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, and almonds. I make a mixture & try to eat a bunch of it once or twice a day (I don't really measure out an amount, I just sit at the computer & munch on them). So far I'm really happy with the outcome. This has helped more than the metamucil, although it makes me feel like a bird
. Flax seeds are also supposed to be great for your overall health, so that is a big plus!
There are a lot of things out there that you can try, so if one product doesn't work for you, I'm sure you can find another that will. One word of caution, my doctor warned me to stay away from the stronger laxatives, as they can actually damage your bowel if you take them consistently. They are okay for a once in a while thing, but not for regular use.
Skeye
ps- I've also found that the oxycontin makes me thirsty. It goes away with time, but comes back every time we increase my oxy. That definitely makes it easier to drink a lot of water. I've been drinking easily four 20oz water bottles a day since starting the oxy.
Post Edited (skeye) : 12/15/2008 9:54:42 PM (GMT-7)