Dr Gerald Sacks Considers Additional Treatment Options for OIC Management

1. Dr Gerald Sacks Considers Additional Treatment Options for OIC Management Dr Gerald Sacks, MD, Pain Institute of Santa Monica, emphasizes open communication of the management of opioid-induced constipation among the patients and practitioners. He feels that patients are usually reluctant to address opioid-induced constipation. Even the practitioners are so busy addressing diabetes, hypertension, chronic pain, associated with opioid that they just overlook the treatment of opioid-induced constipation. He considers it important to discuss and treat the potential adverse effects of the medications that he prescribes. Dr Gerald discusses personally with every patient to know their bowel function. Some of his patients are referred by other practitioners for management and treatment of the chronic pain associated with OIC. He even educates the patient and even the practitioner about the appropriate treatment using over-the-counter medications, lifestyle changes, increased hydration, increased intake of fruit and vegetables, and the appropriate usage of peripherally acting µ-opioid receptor antagonists. and other issues

2. Considering additional treatment options for OIC management, Dr Gerald Sacks opines that although the appropriate balanced nutrition with appropriate vegetables, fruit, and dietary fiber helps prevent OIC [opioid-induced constipation] and other types of constipation, it is equally important to be as active as the patients are permitted to be. If the patients are physically active, it maintains the whole body’s homeostasis, including the bowel movements. He further states that addressing patients with OIC needs to be the part of review system. The physicians need to ask the question in a thoughtful manner so you can get appropriate answer from the patient.