Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Apr 2024
Review Meta AnalysisThe Management of Opioid-Induced Constipation in Cancer and Advanced Illness: A Meta-Analysis.
Constipation is a common problem among patients with cancer. By some accounts, about 60% of cancer patients experience constipation. There is limited empirical evidence of the clinical effectiveness of pharmacologic agents in opioid-induced constipation in advanced diseases. ⋯ Methylnatrexone and Naldemedine have currently shown promise in randomized trials concerning opioid-induced constipation in cancer and advanced illness. It is imperative that future research ascertain not just the relative therapeutic efficacy but also the cost-benefit analyses of these newer regimens with more commonly used and accessible laxatives.