Hi everyone, I'm mew to this site and I'm hoping someone may be able to help me. I have been prescribed 20mg Oxycontin for arthritic back spasm pain & I am taking 1 morning and night. I have been on them for just over 1 week & am experiencing really BAD constipation, my doctor sees it as no big deal, but it is to me, and I am quite sure that the doc has never taken them himself. I am hoping for some feedback from people who have actually used O.C 20mg. Also is it easy to stop taking them? I have heard so many negative stories about their use & abuse. Thanking you in advance... cheers.:)

Hello. I haven't taken them before but have suffered constipation due to medication so I know that uncomfortable bloated feeling. The only things I can recommend is drinking lots of water, eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg. Try mashing up a banana and adding a sprinkle of cinnamon and eating that daily. If it still doesn't work try a gentle laxative like sennokot. Your bowels will eventually get back to normal once your body is use to it. Try not to focus on the negative things you've read about the meds. As well as negatives, there's many possitives. Your doctor put you on them to help you not harm you. As for abuse, you won't abuse them will you! So you don't have to worry about that. Give them a chance.

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Originally Posted by Kickboxergirl

Hello. I haven't taken them before but have suffered constipation due to medication so I know that uncomfortable bloated feeling. The only things I can reccomend is drinking lots of water, eat plenty of fresh fruit and veg. Try mashing up a banana and adding a sprinkle of cinnamon and eating that daily. If it still dosent work try a gentle laxative like sennokot. Your bowels will eventually get back to normal once your body is use to it. Try not to focus on the negative things you've read about the meds. As well as negatives, there's many possitives. Your doctor put you on them to help you not harm you. As for abuse, you won't abuse them will you! So you don't have to worry about that. Give them a chance.

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Hey kickboxer girl, thanks for the fast reply. I am drinking plenty of water but haven't tried the bannana thing yet but I certainly will, plus I will up my intake of fresh fruit and hopefully things will start moving soon, thanks again... cheers.:)

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Originally Posted by Ceejay3

Hey kickboxer girl, thanx for the fast reply. I am drinking plenty of water but havn't tried the bannana thing yet but I certainly will, plus I will up my intake of fresh fruit and hopefully things will start moving soon, thanx again...cheers.:)

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Certain types of constipation can actually be made worse by bananas.Constipation is deemed either hot or cold and you need to know which type you have.
Prune juice is very effective and daily walking is important if you can manage it with your pain.
A sedentary lifestyle will cause constipation.

Bananas And Constipation

I am on heavy opioids as well, and have taken Oxy. The bad thing about it is that this is a side effect that doesn't ever go away. The medicine slows down everything, including "movement" in that regard.

You have to be careful to not get impacted. When the pooo sits long enough, it dries out somewhat and hardens, making for even more difficulties, and can become a serious problem.

My pharmacist recommended Benefiber (the kind you mix into a drink) and a stool softener. I ran out of Benefiber one day and used milk of magnesia and it worked almost instantaneously... so if you use a laxative, be sure to be at home!

You need to figure out what foods may be causing it as well
Drink more water, eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, eat more fiber and/or take Beneful, eat unsweetened yogurt or take probiotics and take digestive enzymes.

LOL, NoHelp! You said Beneful! That's dog food! I think you meant Benefiber! Oh, how funny, you made my day!

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Originally Posted by passmeby

LOL, NoHelp!! You said Beneful!! That's dog food!! I think you meant Benefiber!! Oh, how funny, you made my day!!

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Now that's funny and a good catch!

As far as constipation - it's a side effect of Oxy (as well as other medications), sometimes a serious side effect BUT before the OP takes ANYTHING to relieve the constipation she should check with her Physician.

The most innocuous, over the counter remedies, can counteract with medications. Better to be safe than sorry.

Someone said this above on the thread but this can become serious and the side effect doesn't necessarily "go away" with time. My mother was on Oxy for a broken arm, complained about constipation and eventually was diagnosed with impacted bowel - she required surgery.

Again - ask the Doctor. I don't see anything that has been suggested as being terribly harmful but it never hurts to check.

Again, great catch and funny, funny line.

Thanks, Judy! I thought peple might find that funny!

I do agree to check with her Dr about the constipation of course, I just forgot to add that as I was personally advised by my pharmacist who verified with my prescritption insert, and his... But I have ben advised by my Dr about constipation becoming a big problem due to impaction. Here is a link:

Fecal impaction Medical Information

Read the whole thing, as it shows how bad it can become, as far as requiring surgery even, also addresses other treatments and furhter complications. It's really not a matter to be taken lightly. Although the benerful joke did lighten the mood quite a bit! ;)

I hope the OP seeks help somewhere and doesn't just buy some beneful! LOL :)

I use mirilax. It's a little expensive but no cramping or diarrhea very gentle

Constipation is a side effect of taking narcotic analgesics which includes this medication that you're on called oxycontin. Some very good advice was given by another member to drink lots of water and eat plenty of vegetables however you should also consider taking an over the counter medication like colace which is a stool softener and should probably help a lot. In addition you should also consider stopping this medication as soon as you possibly can since it is extremeley addictive. Addiction is probably a far worse side effect than constipation.