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Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents

Diarrhea, a condition marked by frequent loose or watery bowel movements, can be triggered by multiple factors such as viral or bacterial infections, food intolerances, anxiety, medications, and digestive disorders. Symptoms may include abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and cramping. Severe or prolonged diarrhea can lead to complications like electrolyte imbalances, malnutrition, and dehydration if left untreated.
Opioids, widely used antidiarrheal agents, mitigate diarrhea by slowing down...

Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS

Drugs for Treatment of Diarrhea-Predominant IBS

Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) is a subtype of IBS characterized primarily by frequent, loose, or watery stools, abdominal pain, and abdominal discomfort. Therapeutic approaches to managing IBS-D include dietary changes, stress management techniques, and pharmaceutical interventions.
Two specific drugs used in the treatment are alosetron (Lotronex) and eluxadoline (Viberzi). Alosetron, a 5-HT3 antagonist, works by slowing the movement of stools in the gut, reducing bowel...

Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS

Drugs for Treatment of Constipation-Predominant IBS

Pharmacological therapies for IBS-C are designed to alleviate abdominal discomfort and enhance bowel function. In patients with IBS-C, fiber supplements may help soften stools and decrease straining, but may also lead to increased gas production and bloating. Osmotic laxatives like milk of magnesia are frequently used to soften stools and increase stool frequency in IBS-C patients. In addition, two drugs approved for use in severe IBS-C adult cases are linaclotide (Linzess) and lubiprostone...

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners

Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners

Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Bulk-Forming and Stimulant Laxatives

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Bulk-Forming and Stimulant Laxatives

Laxatives enhance bowel movements and alleviate constipation. They augment the stool's bulk, stimulate intestinal muscle contractions, draw water into the intestines, or soften the stool. There are five key types of laxatives: bulk laxatives, stimulant laxatives, osmotic laxatives, stool softeners, and lubricant laxatives.
Bulk-forming laxatives, such as psyllium, methylcellulose, and polycarbophil, absorb water in the intestine, increasing stool bulk and promoting bowel movement. This makes...

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Other Laxatives

Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Other Laxatives

Laxatives are primarily used to alleviate constipation, a common gastrointestinal disorder characterized by infrequent bowel movements and difficulty passing stools. They work by various mechanisms to increase the volume or frequency of bowel movements. The primary modes of action of laxatives include increasing stool bulk, softening the stool, stimulating intestinal motility, and osmotically drawing water into the intestines.
Osmotic or saline laxatives, like magnesium hydroxide or milk of...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence

Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence

Published on: March 8, 2020

Opioid bowel dysfunction and narcotic bowel syndrome: a population-based study.

Rok Seon Choung¹, G Richard Locke, Alan R Zinsmeister

¹Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.

The American Journal of Gastroenterology

|April 16, 2009

Summary

Narcotic bowel syndrome (NBS) may be uncommon, affecting 0.17% of the community. Chronic narcotic use is linked to increased gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain and more frequent laxative use.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 24, 2026

Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence

Combining Laser Capture Microdissection and Microfluidic qPCR to Analyze Transcriptional Profiles of Single Cells: A Systems Biology Approach to Opioid Dependence

Published on: March 8, 2020

Area of Science:

Gastroenterology
Pharmacology
Public Health

Background:

Opioid prescription use is rising globally.
Narcotic bowel syndrome (NBS), characterized by chronic abdominal pain exacerbated by narcotic use, may be under-recognized.
Understanding the prevalence of NBS and its association with GI symptoms is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

To assess the association between gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and chronic narcotic use in the community.
To estimate the prevalence of Narcotic Bowel Syndrome (NBS).

Main Methods:

A community-based survey of 4,898 individuals using validated GI symptom questionnaires.
Medical chart review to identify chronic opioid use (>5 weeks for pain management).
Logistic regression analysis to determine associations between GI symptoms and narcotic use.

Main Results:

The study included 2,913 respondents (59% response rate), with 4.1% using narcotics.
Only 0.17% of participants met the criteria for Narcotic Bowel Syndrome (NBS).
Narcotic users reported more GI symptoms, particularly frequent abdominal pain and stool frequency, and used laxatives more often.

Conclusions:

Narcotic bowel syndrome (NBS) appears to be relatively uncommon in the general community.
Chronic narcotic use is associated with increased reporting of specific GI symptoms and higher laxative consumption.
Further research may be needed to fully understand the impact of chronic opioid use on gastrointestinal health.