awkward question, on suboxone and only 1 bowel movement in 3 weeks

[ileanni]

I started on the subs 3 weeks ago. I went the first 10 days with no urge to go at all.. But i was all kinds of bloated. Since i was no longer on the pills i had the urge to eat, so i did. but nothing ever came out o.O So i finally took 2 dulcolax laxatives before bed. and sure enough the next morning i was in the bathroom for an hour and a half i swear with the most horrible pains ever. I was even nauseated. Thought i was gonna vomit while sitting there. That was sometime last week. And again i haven't had the urge to go since. So i picked up some stool softeners. And i have been taking at least 6 a day for the last 3 days, and still nothing. I don't want to go back to the laxatives because of the pain they cause. Anyone have any suggestions. Again i apologize for awkwardness of this subject. But even on the pain pills i was never ever constipated. My husband who is also on the subs, has no problem with this situation. He's as regular as they come...

[ricart70]

You are on a high powered opiate and that is going to cause high powered constipation that eclipses the low grad constipation of hydro.
  Have you tried magnesium citrate. I can't remember if its sodium or magnesium because I have not had to buy it in a long time.They sell it at all dollar generals.It's in a glass bottle,it's liquid and drink two of them and stay home.lol

[EvolverU]

Hi & Welcome,

                   First and foremost, before you get really acclimated to Suboxone it might a good idea to get off of it for a host of reasons which I'll go into if you're interested. The stool softner thing, while I completely understand why you bought them, are also a bad idea because they're addictive. You won't be able to go w/o them and that's toxic. An alternative measure you could take would be either 'Natural Calm' which is a powdered Calcium/Magnesium/Potassium/Ascorbic Acid & D3 supplement or just take liquid Magnesium. This will take care of the problem if you  take a little more than the recommended dosage.It will also help you sleep. I would also suggest exercise and a lot of hydration -- just water, nothing else. Stop any caffeine, energy drinks & sodas. Try to add raw and slightly cooked green veggies and maybe legumes/beans to your diet.
                Could you tell me a little bit more about the kind of habit you had? - What you were on, how long & at what dose. Is it your first habit?

Hope this helps, Wishing you all good things

[ang_811]

I had that problem for years even on the subs. Do u c a Dr? Not to b gross or anything but that stuff needs to get out of ur body BC it can cause bacteria then that bacteria can spread into your body and even into your bloodstream causing all kinds of serious problems. How do I know all of this? BC when I was addicted for ten years I'd go a almost a month and even longer without having a bm. When I got sober I started having health problems. The bacteria had spread inside of me and has caused a lot of problems. Its no fun to wake up and not know if ur gonna b sick that day or not. Every other day I have flu like symptoms amongst other problems. My drs have been working on this for the past 6 months. I'm not saying this for pitty. I'm sharing this with u in hopes that one day u won't have fhs problems like I do today. See a Dr soon. Don't ignore it like I did.

[nursegirl6572]

That's REALLY not good.

Obviously, opiates cause constipation.

My recommendation is to add a stool softener, like Colace (docusate sodium) to your daily regimen.  They are available OTC, and what's nice about it is it isn't a harash laxative like ducolax, or magnesium citrate (that is some HEAVY HEAVY duty stuff, btw...I would steer clear of that!).

You can take one a day for a while to see if that helps, and if needed, you can take it twice a day (standard dose is 100mg per capsule).  It will keep you regulated by keeping the stool soft.  Also, it's very important to make sure you're getting enough fluids, that helps with constipation a lot.

Talk with your doctor, but I assure you that Colace is perfectly safe, non-addictive.  If you decide to try it, you may notice another product, called Peri-Colace.  That's also an OTC stool softener, but it has more laxative properties.  I would definitely try the colace first and go from there.

It's very dangerous to allow yourself to go so long without a bowel movement, and then take a harsh laxative to address the constipation.  You risk some very terrible side effects, VERY severe cramping, even fainting.  That's WAY too rough on the system.  Also, you're risking impaction and all kinds of other issues that could land you in the hospital.

Keep track, and make sure you are going at LEAST once every three days.  If you haven't gone by the third day, then you may need something a little stronger to get the bowels moving again...but hopefully the stool softener taken every day will prevent the constipation for you.  If you DO need an occasional laxative, ducoloax isn't a bad choice, don't overdo it...start with one or two and wait.  Miralax is also a good OTC laxative, not incredibly harsh.  PLEASE stay away from the mag citrate.  

Good luck, hope you find something to keep you regulated!

[ileanni]

My opiate habit goes back about 6-7 years. It started with just a couple lortabs a few times a week. And eventually over the years and my husband's and my tolerance increasing, we got up to taking 30+ hydros each a day. Everyday. There was a time where i couldn't remember a day when i went without any for years. Well of course with that kind of habit we were buying off the street plus going to doctors and the amount of money we were spending was out of control. My dad has been on methadone for 20 years for a heroin habit. He'd shoot anything up. Well me and my husband figured it'd be a lot cheaper to just get on methadone. I wasn't strong enough at the time to try and taper myself off the pills. So we went from one drug to another. We were on methadone for 8 months. He ended up in jail for 40 days and had to kick his 140mg/day habit. And i was stuck without the money for the clinic since he worked and i stayed at home with the kids. So i had to kick my 110mg/day habit cold turkey. I was staying at my dad's house at the time. And i was extremely sick for well over a month. I lost so much weight cause i couldn't eat or drink anything. I'd just throw it up. Well after the physical wd were managable i started dealing with the mental stuff. And that was almost worse than the first. I was so depressed and lost and it was like my mind had a mind of it's own if that makes any sense. It even got to the point i was having suicidal thoughts. Well my husband gets out of jail and probably no more than a week later we were buying a few pills. I figured just a couple wouldn't hurt. And then our daily habit returned. So we've been back on the pills since last august. We got on suboxone about 3 weeks ago and of course this dr wants us to take 2 8mg strips a day. And a 3rd one if we feel we need it. I only take 8mg a day. The first time i took just the 1 strip

[ileanni]

it made me feel normal. Not high of any kind. and i knew i didn't need to take anymore than that. but i'm not gonna lie and say the addict in me didn't try and take 2 strips just to see how i'd feel. but i didn't feel any different. So i've only been taking 8mgs a day. and today i actually cut down to 6mgs. we don't plan on staying on these for very long. We're using these to taper ourselves off opiates completely. i'm not saying we won't experience any wd symptoms just because we switched opiates, this was just a cheaper way to do it. and for me, mentally, i'm ready. we're making changes in our lifestyle to prepare ourselves for sober living. i just found a church we're gonna start going to. and they have NA classes at night that we'll attend. i know i've read horror stories about suboxone. but i've also read some that actually gave me hope. So i guess it's different for everyone. I just know this is a battle that i'll fight everyday for a long time if not for the rest of my life. and i'm ready!!

[ileanni]

And i'd really like it if you would share with me your experience or knowledge of suboxone...

[ileanni]

Thanks for the advice. I've been taking colace for the last 3 days at probably 3 a day. And still nothing. I know it's not safe to be in this situation.That's why i was seeking advice. Nothing like this has ever happened to me. I drink plenty of tea throughout the day. i don't drink sodas. But i have to have my 2 cups of coffee in the morning. I know one person said to cut out all caffeine, but i just can't do that.. i think i'm just as addicted to my coffee as i am to opiates.. and they said to exercise, which i do everyday. Maybe i'll try and drink more water even though i've never been a water drinker. And next time i'm at the store i'll look for the peri-colace if i haven't had any luck by then. thanks again :)

[YesLife4Me]

That's awful.  I don't have anything really to add that hasn't been said.  I hope you get some relief soon.  

[nursegirl6572]

And next time i'm at the store i'll look for the peri-colace if i haven't had any luck by then. thanks again :) .

Definitely a GOOD plan!!

[ricart70]

The only reason I mentioned the mag citrate drink was because during my using career I tried all of those others and they did nothing for my PARALYZED digestive system.They were a cruel joke lol  Then someone told me about mag citrate and it  "worked"  

[nursegirl6572]

Oh it definitely works!  It's like liquid dynamite!  ;0)

[ricart70]

lol  it is violent

[YesLife4Me]

What makes it work so suddenly?  Is it like the stuff they give people before they have a colonoscopy?   I haven't had one, but I hear that the  stuff you drink before makes you feel like you are going to lift off the toilet seat.  LOL!

[ricart70]

not sure but I read it pulls water from tissues into the intestine forcing it to evacuate.   I feel dirty now

[nursegirl6572]

LOL ricart.

It's some insane stuff.  We give people with severe constipation or impactions like 1/2 a bottle and it caused a firestorm of doo-doo, when you said 2 bottles, I was like 0-0!!!!

I thought, oh dear Lord....after two bottles, I could picture a person passed out on the floor.  

Yes....it's kind of like colonscopy prep, only worse as far as intensity goes.  Like hard hitting, and fast.  And ricart knows his stuff, it works by osmosis..drawing water (lots of it) from the tissues into the intestines.  Like a REALLY unpleasant water balloon if you think about it.  :0)

LOL....I feel dirty too.  I just know, as a nurse, anytime the docs would order Mag Citrate, we KNEW there was a serious, stubborn number 2 issue, and we prepared for war.

[nursegirl6572]

Oh, and to add insult to injury...the liquid prep for a c-scope is called "Go-Lytely".  Someone out there has a sense of humor.  ;0)

[YesLife4Me]

Thanks...now I feel dirty as well.  LOL!!    (I guess I asked the question, so I deserve it)  

[ileanni]

now i'm scared to take any of that... i know i have to do something. i took another laxative earlier this morning and still nothing... ugh!!! after the horrible feeling i had when i took 2 laxatives last week i can only imagine drinking that stuff. I literally felt like i was gonna throw up while i was in the process of going. the pains were almost unbearable!

[ricart70]

Maybe you need to go see a doctor .   Not trying to be blunt  but that's all I can think of and this could get dangerous soon.  

[YesLife4Me]

I agree...I think you need to see your Dr.  You could wind up with impacted bowels or an infection.  I think the longest I've gone is a week and that was because I ran out of opiates so my body went into w/d and forced me to go even though I was a little constipated at first it wasn't anything like what you describe.  

[hope6hope]

You could always try mirlax it's not to harsh but gets things going

[Fireby29]

You really need to get to a doctor ASAP.  Three weeks is entering dangerous territory.  I would consider the ER also.  Do not mess around with this.

Bryan

[ileanni]

i'm not the type of person that goes to the doctor or er unless it's a dire emergency.. or has to do with my addiction.. so i took 2 more dulcolex laxatives. If nothing happens by the morning, then you all have scared me into going to the ER.. i don't have insurance so i can't just set up an appointment with just any doctor. and i've spent all my extra money on my sub doc and medication already... i wonder why i'm having this side effect but my husband isn't having any problems like this. he goes on a regular basis... any ideas??