How Can I Best Prevent or Manage Constipation Caused By Pain Medicine?

— -- Question: How can I best prevent or manage constipation caused by pain medicine?

Answer: Constipation. You know, it's one of the biggest problems we have and why people stop taking their pain medicine. It's a very simple thing. If you take pain medicine, you're probably going to have to take laxatives. Now I know people don't like laxatives. So the first thing you do is make sure that you have enough water, that you have enough bran, bulk, fruits in your diet; but sometimes when you're not well it's not that easy to get all of that in. What I would suggest to you is that you immediately start taking a simple laxative at night if you didn't have a bowel movement that day. Remember, the longer you wait, the harder it'll be to go. So be preventive. Don't wait till you get in trouble.

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