Codeine = constipation! What can I do?

[oopslateagain]

GP prescribed codeine, 15mg, I started it on Thursday and haven't been to the loo properly since Friday. I know he said it could cause constipation but he didn't say what to do if it did! I've never been constipated before so didn't quite know what to expect.

I feel like I need to go but when I sit on the loo nothing happens. Have just spent an hour on the loo thinking I was going to 'go' but - nada. I feel very bloated and uncomfortable and like there's something huge there just waiting to come out.

I eat loads of fruit and veg so no lack of fibre, I have been drinking lots of water but it hasn't helped, not sure if I should get some ex-lax or something tomorrow as I will be going out and don't want to get taken short at a bad moment! I've never used a laxative before so not sure how it all works.

I'm off to bed now but would really appreciate any advice for the morning.

This happened me with codeine tablets after a caesarian with ds and the only thing which worked for me was when someone recommended I take prune juice.I had tried everything,lactulose,senokot,orange juice and none of them helped.The prune juice really works great(with me anyway).You can get it in sainsburies/tescos usually in the aisle with the tinned fruit/jelly that area.Take a glass OP and again regularly daily after that(like a glass a day ).It will work like a dream hopefully.It also tastes ok.I was in a really bad way with the co-codamol tabs(i even had to ring NHS direct one night I was so constipated).Its not nice at all.Good luck OP.

apart from what's already been suggested

dried fruit - especially those soft figs or apricots

cauliflower ,cauliflower cheese

Lactulose - lots of it - max doses until you start 'moving' then just regular dose to keep it moving - and drink lots of water ...and exercise/move around and sit on something warm (My mum used to put hot water down the loo for my 'hold on to it' DBs)
I ended up with suppositories -and that didn't help - neither did dye being pumped up my bottom for a CT scan (and the nurse who did it said it probably would)
I was in hospital on codeine and not allowed to get out of bed - (so no exercise and not comfortable using bedpan)...
After 3 days mentioned it and they said they would up the lactulose - then realised I hadn't been getting any anyway...(and also told me for the reason I was there not to strain !)
It was 10 days before I managed to go ...at least I was on lots of painkillers so I didn't feel too uncomfortable - I think the embarrassment of going on a bed pan was nothing compared to a nurse inserting the suppositories for me (twice -and both times I passed them almost straight away)
And ironically 2 weeks before I'd had salmonella and a very different bowel problem!
When PG I took lactulose, daily fibre sachets, lots of water etc etc - no way was I ending up like that again!

I've heard that massaging your abdomen with a tennis ball can help .

Maybe mimicking walking movements while you are bed bound ?

I do find walking helps and I kind of do a sort of hip wiggle/walking movement when on loo to help .

It's horrid isn't it !

OP, you have my sympathies! I am on 120mg of codine a day, plus 900mg of ferrous fumarate. I miss pooling like a normal person.
I eat 8 to 10 servings of fruit and veg a day, plus take metamusal fibre supplement, and drink loads of water.
I hope you feel better soon!

Painkillers gave me the same problem, so am now prescribed Movicol (better than lactulose for this according to GP), plus orange juice which happens to have bits and plenty of plain water, keeping a glass with me on the desk all day helps. Hope you're soon back to normal.

Lactulose and/or docusate sodium (you can get this yourself from any pharmacy). I have regularly been on codeine or morphine for years and it has the same effect on me. Hideous. The combination of the two has got me moving in the past, and then I prefer docusate as long as I'm on an opiate for maintenance.

Why have I not found you guys before? ! I have a long term back problem and need codeine to cope with the pain, suffer so badly from constipation! I use senna but after three days of no BM it causes hideous abdominal cramps and then the runs. I will try movitol which I had never heard of before, and OJ with bits.
Thank you guys, you may well have just made my life a darned sight more comfortable! !!

Two things that really help me when I'm constipated from drugs are perineal massage and glycerin suppositories. Don't stray too far from the toilet with the latter though.

When I was constipated after an operation last year I found that apple juice and dried apricots did the trick [embarrassed]

That should obviously have been

Movicol to get it moving from inside..and glycerine suppositories to shift the more solid stuff nearer the exit! A LOT of movicol... (have been up to 12 sachets before now!)

Both can be bought in Boots (supps are with the general laxatives) You really need to keep up an unbunging regime til you are a few days clear of codeine!

Sadly nothing natural works for me but generally a very high veg diet helps a bit.

i have a prescription for movicol linked to my codeine prescription.

You guys are life savers - been on codeine for sciatica for the last 4 days and already have horrendous constipation. The glycerin suppositories didn't help that I made hubby go to the chemist to buy while I was stuck on the loo, and I don't want to describe what I had to do after 2 hours to finally get relief.

I can't sit due to the sciatica, which is probably a good thing now. The unbunging regime starts now - where is that hubby - I wonder if he fancies a another trip to the chemist?