American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
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Am J Health Syst Pharm · Oct 2007
ReviewEmerging pharmacologic options for treating postoperative ileus.
Characteristics of the ideal drug therapy for postoperative ileus (POI); the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety of currently available nonselective opioid antagonists and the new peripherally selective opioid antagonists methylnaltrexone and alvimopan for the treatment of POI; and formulary considerations associated with the introduction of these new POI drug therapies are discussed. ⋯ Peripherally selective opioid receptor antagonists are promising new drug therapies that can reduce the clinical and economic burden of POI.