Pharmacologic Treatment of Constipation in Cancer Patients

McMillan S.C. Assessing and managing narcotic-induced constipation in adults with cancer. Cancer Control. 2004; 11(3 suppl 1): 3–9.

Smith S. Evidence-based management of constipation in the oncology patient. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2001; 5: 18–25.

O'Mahony S. , Coyle N. , Payne R. Current management of opioid-related side effects. Oncology (Huntingt). 2001; 15: 61–73, 77.

Choi Y.S. , Billings A.J. Opioid antagonists: a review of their role in palliative care, focusing on use in opioid-related constipation. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2002; 24: 71–90.

Wright P.S. , Thomas S.L. Constipation and diarrhea: the neglected symptoms. Semin Oncol Nurs. 1995; 11: 289–297.

Sykes N.P. An investigation of the ability of oral naloxone to correct opioid-related constipation in patients with advanced cancer. Palliat Med. 1996; 10: 135–144.

Curry C.E. , Tatum-Butler D. Laxative products. In: Covington T.R. , Lawson L.C. , Young L.L. , eds. Handbook of Nonprescription Drugs. 10th ed. Washington, DC: American Pharmaceutical Association; 1993: 219–236.

Lacy C.F. , Armstrong L.L. , Goldman M.P. , eds Drug Information Handbook. 11th ed. Hudson, Ohio: Lexi-Comp Inc; 2003.

Schiller L.R. Clinical pharmacology and use of laxatives and lavage solutions. J Clin Gastroenterol. 1999; 28: 11–18.

Doughty D.B. When fiber is not enough: current thinking on constipation management. Ostomy Wound Manage. 2002; 48: 30–41.

Scarlett Y. Medical management of fecal incontinence. Gastroenterology. 2004; 126(1 suppl 1): S55–S63.

Gerber L. , Hicks J. , Shah J. Rehabilitation of the cancer patient. In: Devita V.T. , Hellman S. , Rosenberg S.A. , eds. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 6th ed. Baltimore, Md: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2001: 3089–3110.

Fallon M. , O'Neill B. ABC of palliative care: constipation and diarrhea. BMJ. 1997; 315: 1293–1296.

Wong P.W. , Kadakia S. How to deal with chronic constipation: a stepwise method of establishing and treating the source of the problem. Postgrad Med. 1999; 106: 199–200, 203-204,207-210.

Cleveland M.V. , Flavin D.P. , Ruben R.A. New polyethylene glycol laxative for treatment of constipation in adults: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. South Med J. 2001; 94: 478–481.

Dosh S.A. Evaluation and treatment of constipation. J Fam Pract. 2002; 51: 555–559.

Foley K.M. Supportive care and quality of life: management of cancer pain. In: Devita V.T. , Hellman S. , Rosenberg S.A. , eds. Cancer: Principles and Practice of Oncology. 6th ed. Baltimore, Md: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2001: 2997–3011.

Agra Y. , Sacristan A. , Gonzalez M. Efficacy of senna versus lactulose in terminal cancer patients treated with opioids. J Pain Symptom Manage. 1998; 15: 1–7.

McNicol E. , Horowicz-Mehler N. , Fisk R.A. Management of opioid side effects in cancer-related and chronic noncancer pain: a systematic review. J Pain. 2003; 4: 231–256.

Thomas J. , Portenoy M. , Moehl C. A phase II randomized dose-finding trial of methylnaltrexone for the relief of opioid-induced constipation in hospice patients. Proc Annu Meet Am Soc Clin Oncol. 2003; 22: 729. Abstract 2933.