Percocet & Constipation/Digestive Problems

I've been on Percocet for the last couple of years (5mg/325mg pills). I maybe take 1-3 a day. Lately I've been experiencing way too frequent constipation, upset stomach, bloating (sometimes diaherea). I went to my doc and got blood test (gluten sensitivity), and stool test -- both turned up negative. He was saying it could be the percocet. I've been trying to cut back on these things - maybe half a pill once or twice a day instead...depending on my back pain.

Just beginning to change my diet... not easy. During these stomach bouts I also get cold...body temperature goes dowm - strange, but doctor says it's because "my bowels are connected to my autonomic nervous system, that's why the chills...". Once the stomach settles, the chills go away.

Anyways, anyone else experiencing the same thing? I'm just getting sick of this - almost afraid to eat something at nite cause a lot of the time I'll wake up in the middle of the night with a brutal stomach ache and then head to the toilet where I'm spending time when I'd rather be sleeping!

web101 -- Your doctor says the constipation COULD be the percocet??? What kind of doctor is this? OF COURSE it is the percocet---and no doctor should have ever prescribed it, or any other opiod painkiller (they are all the same--codeine, vicodin, oxycodone, percocet, oxcycontin) without telling you that it WILL cause constipation.
For some people, on lower doses maybe you won't notice it right away, maybe other things in your diet or lifestyle changed so that it showed up later but not right away. But opiod painkillers can ALWAYS be expected to cause constipation, and it is best to plan for this and do something about it beforehand---drink extra fluids, juices, eat extra fiber, take fiber supplements, take stool softener, take a natural laxative such as senna. You should never take an opiod painkiller without being attentive to the likelihood of constipation, and having a plan to treat it. I take much a much higher dose of painkillers than you mention, and I have to fight to get the amount of laxatives and stool softeners just right, to keep the plumbing moving (but not too much). It's just part of the package, if you are going to take these painkillers.

Hi Web!

You're doing great with managing your pain meds! Yes, any of the opioid pain meds cause constipation and it's dose related...the more you take the worse it is. I have to take something to counter act it otherwise...well, I won't go into the details...lol

Several easy and non-painful solutions are to do what you do and work on diet. Add more fruits and veggies/fiber, get plenty of water and try to exercise the best you can. You can get OTC stool softeners. The brand name is Colace but you can get them generic and they are way cheaper. I usually take 4/day. If you don't like pills you can try Miralax which is a powder you mix in with any beverage. And if you put it in a warm drink you really, really can't tell it's in there. I've been slowly switching over to the Miralax. It's cheaper at Walmart and most Costcos have it too.

BUT...always let your doc know if you are choosing to take something for it....just to be safe.

Keep us posted,
Chutzie

Welcome same to the CP forum and although this is a older thread I wanted to say that if you have not posted yet in the PC forum they would love to hear from you and can help guide you through the stress and anxiety of the lupron treatment. As for the constipation and stomach issues associated with opiates the key is prevention,finding something that works for you to keep from getting to the point of misery is the best thing. Everyone is different at this point about what seems to work for them but the probiotics are a good place to start,miralax is also seen to work well and sometimes nothing more than adding extra bulk and fiber to your diet is the answer. If you would like to start a introduction post Same it would give everyone the opportunity to say hi and welcome you to the forum. Good luck with your treatment!

Same that is a very active forum & you will find a wealth of information from those guys over there. I think you will fit right in with those fellas.

Keep us posted on how you are doing.

Some drs mention the constipation and some don't. The drug information inset that comes with your prescription from the pharmacy does list the most common side effects.

Well my sweats are from Lupron injection for postate cancer, as far as getting off percoset I'm not seeing that to be possible as long as I have enough severe back pain to prevent me from doing anything, not mental but crippling physical pain. Had me on the floor curled up, yeah I know that could be with drawing pain, but this back pain may need to see a doctor about it to see what can be done. A friend had a Medtronic installed worked well until the battery failed , surgery to replace caused infection, almost died from. So I don't know about the back but am having severe abdominal pain, CT scan negative , gastro doc next, then??? Will they say its the percoset???Diabetes???The cookies I eat??? Too much fibre? too much Senna???

Same since you have PC, Remicade will be off the table for you since one of the potential side effects is cancer. I am not sure who suggested it but you would not be a candidate for it. Remicade is used for ulcerative colitis, crohns disease & RA & possibly a few other auto immune disorders.

Since you are having so much back pain I would get in to see my dr & get some scans done to make sure there isn't something else going on like a disc problem. Also, is joint pain listed as a side effect from the Lupron? If so, then you need to visit with the prescribing dr about this. There are many other pain medications your dr can give you besides Percocet. There are many different pain medications that can be used. Unfortunately, constipation comes along too. If you haven't tried Miralax you may want to give it a try. It usually takes a couple of days to kick in, it is a stool softener. Actually, oncologist are usually far better at treating pain than most drs, so I would be making an apt ASAP with mine.

Take care.