I had to spend some time in the Marsden at the beginning on June. Whilst I was there I had 5 lots of radiation and was put on Oxynorm & Oxycodone. Their trying to level out the pain. I was on 15mg of O/norm & 20mg of O/codone.
I had to go back last week to have the dose increased to 20mg & 40mg. I still don’t feel pain free amd wondered if the dose I’m on is particularly high or how high can they go with it.
I am suffering from that ‘horrible’ constipation and have just been put back on Movicol again. I feel really sluggish and don’t feel like being around people. Not sure if that’s just me or the ‘horrible’.
Do the tablets for pain cause constipation? Every ache & pain I think it’s the ‘C’ come back somewhere else.
Would be grateful to hear from anyone who’s on the same treatment or anyone who knows about it.
Hi Rosebuds I’m really surprised you haven’t been told of the side effects of your meds. Constipation is the most common side effect and the fact that the meds have been increased means that your constipation should be monitored. Your doses are still quite small so you should let them know you still have pain. You should always have a laxitive if on an opiod!! I,m a nurse as well as a fellow BC patient!
Hope this helps JuliexX
Yes, the opiate families (oxycodone - oxycontin and oxynorm, oramorph, dihydrocodeine, all those and others) cause constipation. I used Lactulose (tastes like liquid candyfloss, quite hideous but worth it for the releif!) and prune juice. I actually LIKE prune juice, and if I drink half of one of those big brown bottles of it, the earth moves! I would recommend that you avoid things like Fybrogel, as it’s very easy to over-use it and end up with a monumental blockage - I did that back in 2000 when I was first being treated for hypothyroidism and hypoadrenalism, and ended up going to have a colonic - I didn’t have a movement for two weeks, which is far too long to leave unaddressed. The colonic was SUCH a relief!
I was on oxycontin and oxynorm (contin is the long acting one white tablet one and norm is the short acting colored capsule one) and somewhat annoying found that the capsules actually gave me migraines and other headaches and nausea. Shame, because the white tabs were fantastic pain relief for more post-op (I had a LOT of pain and was in bits most of the time) but they sent me home from hosp with only a few white ones but loads of the caps, which I can’t use!
Codeine is such a known constipator that if you are having mild diarrhoea (and you’re sure you haven’t got some nasty bug that you do need to be allowing to be ejected from your bottom!) you can take something like paracodol to relieve the runs - like if you have to travel, for instance, and just need it to stop for a while. Codeine is also a cough suppressant, and can be very helpful if you’ve got a standard (nothing sinister in origin) tickly cough that stops you from sleeping.
I must emphasize though that none of these little tricks should be used as a long-term measure as they may be covering up some underlying cause that needs medical attention!! But they are useful to know for short term non-serious stuff.
Since having a delayed reconstruction op in December last year, which went wrong and resulted in the implant having to be removed, I have been in pain.
In January this year I was prescribed Oxycontin and Oxynorm (suspension) by the hospital pharmacist.
I have also been experiencing severe constipation, and stinging in my eyes, along with sweating and nausea, not to mention the aches and pains.
Has anyone else experienced the eye problem?
I also take Paracetamol and Ibuprofen. I also take medication for high blood pressure.
I am due to undergo two further operations, and am worried about having to come off this medication after. I am worried I may be addicted to it.