What is a common side effect of opioid therapy?

Constipation is a well-recognized and common side effect of opioid therapy. Opioids act primarily on the central nervous system to manage pain, but they also affect the gastrointestinal tract by binding to opioid receptors located there. This binding action reduces gastrointestinal motility, which leads to slower movement of contents through the intestines, resulting in constipation. It is important for both patients and healthcare providers to be aware of this side effect, as it can significantly impact the quality of life and may require management strategies such as dietary adjustments, hydration, or the use of laxatives.

While nausea, headaches, and insomnia can occur with opioid use, they are not as consistently reported or as prevalent as constipation. Nausea can often be a transient effect as the body adjusts to the medication. Headaches might arise from other factors such as withdrawal or dehydration, and insomnia may be linked to pain or other psychological factors. Thus, while they are possible side effects, constipation remains a hallmark issue associated with long-term opioid use.