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Pain Medicine Contributes to Constipation

Q. I am taking strong pain medicine after knee surgery. The result is unbearable constipation. Please send me recipes for the dynamite pumpkin bran muffins and “Power Pudding.” I need relief!

A. Narcotic pain medications like hydrocodone, oxycodone, OxyContin, Percocet, Tylenol with Codeine and Vicodin and are notorious for causing constipation. Even anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen (Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) can make constipation worse.

We are sending you our Guide to Constipation with the recipes you request and ten tips to conquer constipation. We heard from a nurse regarding the prune juice, applesauce and coarse wheat bran recipe: “This is what we call power pudding. We use this in the nursing home all the time. It does the trick!”

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About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
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