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Acupoint Application Combined with Acupoint Massage for Treating Constipation in a Patient with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 18, 2023
Subcutaneous methylnaltrexone for opioid-induced constipation in advanced-illness patients with or without active
Bruce H Chamberlain1, Michelle Rhiner2, Neal E Slatkin3,4
1Genesis Healthcare, Davenport, IA 52803, USA.
Abstract:
Aim: To evaluate methylnaltrexone for opioid-induced constipation in patients with and without cancer. Methods: This post hoc analysis comprises two Phase III, multicenter, double-blind, randomized studies of advanced-illness patients who received methylnaltrexone subcutaneous injection or placebo. Results: Significantly more patients treated with methylnaltrexone than placebo experienced laxation within 4 (cancer = 55.5 vs 15.5%; noncancer = 55.6 vs 12.8%) and 24 (cancer = 64.7 vs 29.8%; noncancer = 64.4 vs 30.8%) h after the first dose (p < 0.01 vs placebo). Regardless of cancer status, methylnaltrexone reduced median time to laxation and improved constipation relief without impacting opioid analgesia or withdrawal symptoms. Conclusion: Methylnaltrexone provided significant improvements in opioid-induced constipation over placebo in advanced-illness patients with and without cancer. Clinical trial registration numbers: study 301: NCT00401362; study 302: NCT00402038.
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