Authors' recommendations: Opioids are a class of drugs that are commonly prescribed for pain. Constipation is a side effect that affects nearly all patients taking opioid treatment. There has been an increase in the use of opioids to treat chronic pain in recent years. Current treatment for opioid-induced constipation often involves laxatives. But, it has been estimated that 50–80% of people taking laxatives for opioid-induced constipation get only a limited improvement in symptoms. Naldemedine is a new drug for the treatment of opioid-induced constipation in adults that is taken as a tablet once a day. If it is licensed for use in the UK, naldemedine may offer an additional treatment option for adults with this debilitating condition.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2016

URL for published report: http://www.hsric.nihr.ac.uk/topics/naldemedine-for-opioid-induced-constipation-in-adults/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre (NIHR HSC)