21412_Evolving Management of Opioid-Induced Constipation in Patients with Chronic Pain

Jeffrey A. Gudin, MD (Chair), Michael J. Brennan, MD, and Anthony J. Lembo, MD discuss the pathogenesis and consequences of opioid-induced constipation in patients with chronic pain in addition to strategies in managing OIC.

Chronic pain constitutes a major public health problem in the United States. As a result, the use of opioid analgesics has increased exponentially. For the patient who has been prescribed opioid analgesics, constipation is just one of the many side effects with which the patient is burdened. Yet, unlike sedation or nausea, opioid-induced constipation (OIC) does not subside. This not only complicates therapy, with the patient sometimes becoming non-adherent to medication for the sole purpose of having a bowel movement, but OIC can become a different type of pain the patient must endure. Therefore, assessment and treatment to prevent or ameliorate OIC is an essential component of pain management. Current management for OIC is nonspecific and often ineffective. However, medications are now emerging that target the underlying cause of OIC by acting specifically and locally within the GI tract.

In this program, experts in OIC will address the pathogenesis and consequences of OIC, current strategies in managing OIC, and newer, targeted pharmacologic options for the management of OIC. In addition, case presentation and faculty panel discussion will help guide best practices in managing OIC.

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