Posted by okydoky on September 23, 2008, at 13:02:16
In reply to Re: Buprenorphine experiences » kingcolon, posted by Peter S. on September 23, 2008, at 11:58:58
My two cents. Hope it is helpful.
I have been working with constipation caused by opiates for several years and discussed it with Naturopaths, doctors and my physical therapist.
If you are interested in trying to resolve it more naturally here are a few things I have tried.
I would suggest adding soluble and insoluble fiber to your diet and increasing your liquid intake. Fresh vegetables and fruits and I have personally found steel cut oats to be most helpful. There are web sites that list foods and there soluble/insoluble fiber content if you are interested.
Some of the over the counter fiber supplements contain psyllium, which can cause a great deal of gas and discomfort but is all natural. I use Citrucel along with Phillips magnesium tablets (I take 1/2 of the magnesium as a whole is too much. Everyone is different.) Depending on how much opiate I am on I have been able to control the constipation by increasing my dietary fiber and liquid intake. When that was not enough I added the Citrucel with some magnesium and on a rare occasion Senokot (natural sennosides).When all else fails I take Miralax. It is not recommended to take for more than two weeks as you can become dependent on it. The first time I was prescribed Miralax I ended up in the hospital completely dehydrated, so be careful. If all else fails this medication works wonders for many people I am told by my physical therapist.
I always try to resolve my health problems the most natural way initially before I delve into chemicals. It would be easier and more direct to just take the Miralax but I prefer to do things as naturally as possible.
With all the medications I now take that comment probably sounds ridiculous but it is the truth.
Hope this helps
oky
poster:okydoky
thread:831927
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080915/msgs/853645.html