Movantik for Opioid-Induced Constipation User Reviews

• Ken...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 17, 2020

"Movantik has been a life-saver for me. I've been on opioid treatment for years and can't tell you how many times I've been scared to death because my medication causes me to back up. I've used stimulant laxatives almost daily, and they don't always work (and can cause long-term motility problems if used frequently). Movantik worked immediately when I first tried it; the first day it did cause cramping and some discomfort, but I was so relieved that the discomfort was worth it. After that first day, it hasn't caused any discomfort and has allowed me to get back to normal and not have the constant anxiety about getting a blockage. I've seen a number of reviews talk about discomfort and cramping, but for me that only happened the first day and my quality of life has been greatly improved since then."

• Fre...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 16, 2021

"I can understand both negative and positive reactions to Movantik. I have experienced both. The first time I had cramps and went immediately. This is while using heroin. During the beginning of the pandemic, copping fentanyl and dope in the street was getting dangerous and hard. So after years of not doing methadone, I got back on. It works differently with methadone. What I do is I cut them in half. I take half in the morning on an empty stomach an hour before my methadone dose, and at night I take the rest. After 20 years of experiencing horrible constipation, chronic inflammation, and severe fatigue, depression, now I go 3 times a day, I lost 50 pounds, and I changed to a plant-based diet. Movantik in combination with diet and exercise can be a lifesaver. Stick with it."

• Ali...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2020

"Movantik is the worst experience I have ever had. Within 20 minutes of taking it, I was doubled over with severe stomach cramps, nausea, sweating profusely, shortness of breath, and thought I was going to pass out! But after all this, still no BM. It has been over an hour, still having stomach cramps, nausea, and sweating. I WILL NEVER TAKE MOVANTIK AGAIN! I WISH I HAD NEVER TAKEN THE ONE PILL! You should really think about it before you try this drug. It was one of the absolutely worst experiences of my life!"

• pea...
• March 9, 2021

"So my issue was horrible. I could go 10+ days with no BM, bloating, and feeling like I'm walking around with a watermelon in my tummy 24/7. It was very painful. I take two pills every day, no matter the time. The first few days there was a bit of discomfort, but that's to be expected with all that's stopped up in your system. The big difference is that the stools are finally soft - no more pushing or just sitting there on the toilet for goodness knows how long, getting fissures and other butt issues which are just as painful. Maybe the dose has to do with weight or I have an iron stomach after being on meds for so long, but Movantik is a godsend. I may not go every single day, but I will take it every other day and a little cramping to clear myself out, also H2O H2O H2O..."

• Hop...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 19, 2023

"I felt I needed to write this review considering how many negative reviews there are out there for this drug. (There are very few good/positive ones.) Hopefully, those like me will give it a try. My experience so far has been great. I’ve been taking Percocet 10’s, muscle relaxers, and gabapentin daily for the past 22 years due to 24/7 chronic pain. I have severe constipation. I never go on my own without taking something to make me go. I have advanced to taking prescription medications via the doctor. But either they don’t work or eventually stop working for me. I took the first dose in the morning, one hour before any other meds. Had a small bowel movement within 20 mins. After eating a couple of hours later, had a large bowel movement. No withdrawals and very few cramps/stomach pains. (FYI: It was sudden.)"

• Her...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2018

"People...please do not start with a complete pill! I take a quarter piece every other day and have been blown away with how effective this medication has been. I didn't know my body could hold that much!"

• Bob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2020

"This Movantik was a godsend for me. Pain medication caused severe constipation to the point I was taking stimulant laxatives almost daily with only minimal success. The first day of taking 12.5 mg Movantik, I had some severe cramping and stomach pain, but it worked. After the first day, I had no more cramps. I’ve found it works best if you take it first thing in the morning. When I’ve taken it later in the day, it seems to do nothing, and if you stop taking it for several days, you go back to day one as far as cramps go. It’s not perfect, but it’s a godsend for people on opioids who have almost panicked to death because of days of no motility. Highly recommend, just know on Day 1 you may have discomfort due to days/weeks of backlog."

• Owa...
• December 5, 2019

"I've taken this pill 2x months apart. Both docs insisted it wouldn't put me into ANY form of withdrawal, gut or otherwise. I took a whole pill the 1st time & it sent me right into withdrawal. Blood pressure up, sweats, cold, anxious, restless legs/body, awful. On top of that, it gave me horrendous stomach pains. I was crying & moaning, it felt like labor pains almost, plus nausea. I couldn't take care of my daughter. Took extra methadone, but it didn't help. 7 hrs later I was cleaned out but exhausted & scared, but it finally slowed down, still had mild cramps for hrs after. 2nd time I took less than half a pill & it was the same, except I wasn't in as bad of withdrawal. I vomited so hard & painfully over & over, was seeing double, I didn't get cleaned out, I ended up just having a normal-sized bowel movement. Headache both times. Want so badly to not be constipated anymore that I want to see if it gets easier, but I am so scared. Nothing works. I don't know what to do..."

• EWK...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 10, 2024

"Pretty good but not for everyday use. Chronic pain guy (about 14 years, since 2010) due to lumbar spine problems with multiple fusion surgeries. First time I tried it, I had minimal withdrawal symptoms and it emptied me out. Very nice! After about three weeks of daily use, I found it to be no longer effective. Now I take one 25 mg tablet every one to two weeks, usually first thing on Fri or Sat. Helps keep things under control and reasonably okay, and allows my body to respond properly each time I take it. You have to hydrate and get some roughage in your system if you’re a continual opioid user. Not fun but I’m able to function & support my family."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 29, 2019

"I have been on Percocet and hydrocodone for 4 years and have severe constipation. I also take Movantik. There is a trick to this. You take Movantik first thing in the morning on an empty stomach. I also take a laxative the night before, even though Movantik says not to. I go to the bathroom within 20-30 minutes every single morning. Yes, Movantik causes opioid withdrawal, it is an opioid antagonist. However, if you take a laxative the night before, you will go quickly after taking it, so withdrawals are only 30 minutes to an hour. Withdrawals can be pretty tough at first. However, once I use the bathroom, I immediately take opioids to offset Movantik. If you don't, you will remain in withdrawal. For me, the relief of using the bathroom is worth an hour of discomfort, especially."

• Que...
• November 24, 2019

"My doctor put me on this medicine because I couldn’t go to the bathroom. I took one pill at 6:30 in the morning, by 10 o'clock, I had gone to the bathroom three times. My stomach hurt so bad I couldn’t stand it, it was that way for hours. I got a real weird feeling in my body: shaking, cold, anxious, sick to my stomach. Twelve hours later, I’m still sick to my stomach, cold and anxious. I only took one pill, and the rest are going in the garbage. This pill should be taken off the market."

• hic...
• November 23, 2019

"Given 25 mg samples for OIC. Within 30 minutes, had a bowel movement. Within 45 minutes, was in full-blown opioid withdrawal despite my doctor's reassurances that this wouldn't happen. Had to call an ambulance. Was given 20 mg oxycodone and 1 mg lorazepam at ER. After 3 hours of ER treatment, the horror subsided. DON'T TAKE THIS DRUG!"

• hun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2019

"Worst medication I've ever tried. It gets rid of your constipation but also causes horrible withdrawal. At first, I thought everything was fine. Six hours in, I had gone to the toilet four times. I was okay except for some stomach pain, which I expected. After eight hours in, I had the most horrendous cramps of my life. My whole body ached. I was nauseous. As time goes on, I realized I was in full-blown withdrawal. I started shivering. The cramps, pain, and diarrhea were horrible. Twelve hours in, I can't leave the toilet. My pain's unbearable. I felt I had nothing left to evacuate, but I keep just cramping up. My entire body is shaking. FYI, I take 30 mg oxycodone IR every three hours and Norco 10 four times daily. Movantik has made this ineffective. I'm writing this in the hopes that you do not take this drug. I was going to the bathroom every morning with just Miralax. My insurance company decided to stop covering it. But I'll figure out I'll just buy the Miralax. It's the next morning now, and finally, it's over except for residual cramps."

• Emi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 10, 2017

"I think it’s crazy that medicine specifically prescribed to opioid users will cause opioid withdrawal. Forget that! Take Linzess! I’ve been on Suboxone for 3 years. I’ve had terrible constipation, and when I would finally go, it would be rock solid and extremely painful. Linzess has been life-changing. I go every day. I’m on the highest dosage, the low dosage did absolutely nothing at all. Being constipated is a big deal. It’s awful! My heart goes out to anyone who suffers from it."

• POD...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2018

"Ok, I have been prescribed opioid pain medication for the past 17 years after I fractured my skull. I have literally been on every pain medication known to man! I was on Duragesic for 3.5 years-400 mcg every 3 days. All opioid pain meds cause constipation. I have tried many laxatives, however, NONE of them have worked at all! I saw the commercials for Movantik and asked my doctor about it. He prescribed the med for me, and I started taking it 3 days ago. Movantik works, at least for me. Two hours after taking the dose on the first day, I felt somewhat queasy and slight cramps. Wow! There was no explosion, no diarrhea, no unpleasant side effects. It just worked. I take Movantik in the morning an hour before I eat. Within 2-3 hours, I have a bowel movement, and that is the extent of the experience. I feel like a new man."

• Fib...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2020

"This stuff, Movantik, is a lifesaver. I take Percocet 10-325 twice a day for a blown-out disc while I'm waiting for surgery. I'm 45. So, I've been on these opioids for about 1.5 months, and the side effects from the opioids, this constipation and resulting anal fissures (blood), are a real problem for me. I had some success with regularity using mini enemas, but was still backed up! First day, I took Movantik early in the morning with coffee and had one good BM. Next day, I took it late afternoon and nothing. Next morning, I took my third dose first thing (with coffee, before opioids) and within 4 hours, had 3 BMs. I'm not crampy at all. The only side effects for me are I feel sweaty, and I have to wait until after BMs to take my opioids. Worth it!!!"

• Ran...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2018

"I took this drug at 8:30 PM. At 9:15 PM, I had to go to the bathroom due to H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E stomach cramps. Then it got WORSE!! At 10:30, I had to be taken to the ER and screamed so loud due to the pain my throat is raw. It took 4 shots to get me to stop screaming. I threw up all over the bed and floor. DO NOT take this med. There are so many other alternatives."

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2019

"I've been on methadone maintenance for over four years. And I've been having problems pooping ever since. I heard about Movantik a couple of days ago, so I asked my doc about it, and I haven't felt this good in a long time. Other than having severe diarrhea for the first couple of days after taking it, it has been great."

• Sub...
• August 15, 2018

"I'm on Subzolv, which also causes constipation. Movantik 12.5 once in the morning, as needed, works great for me. No side effects. I'm sorry to hear these extreme stories, and I will begin taking a half dose and see the effects. I will post. Good luck, all."

• Nes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 25, 2020

"I only weigh 110 pounds. So, as a precaution, I cut the Movantik in half, and I'm glad I did. I did everything else I was supposed to do. It was easy not to eat before I took it by only taking it right after I woke up. That way, nothing was in my system. I waited 1 hour to eat and drink coffee. After my coffee, I had luck, and I was good to go. Yes, it made me weak and a little sore feeling in my tummy, but the extreme sickness most people get on here is not my experience. My menstrual cramps are a bit worse. I only take low-dose tramadol. Been on the same amount for 6 years, and only the last few months have I felt constipated. I can't believe how long people wait to seek medical treatment. No wonder you people are getting that sick. Also, follow the rules and don't eat in that window of before and after."

• PNL...
• May 21, 2017

"I hear a lot of horror stories regarding Movantik, but have not had any side effects, except for flatulence (gas) before going to the bathroom. I had a bowel impaction many years ago from an L4-5 fusion, and was never told that the Vicodin could back my bowels up. Long and short, I had a bowel impaction so badly, I could not go either way, and had to go to the ER to have it removed. It was the worst pain that I ever experienced in my life. I had an industrial accident around six years ago and have had several surgeries. I live in chronic pain and take pain medicine daily. I know how an impaction feels and was heading for another ER visit. Movantik 25 mg was my answer; I wish it was available 15 years ago! A bowel impaction is a serious issue to deal with. When you’re constipated, you sit a lot on the toilet and do a lot of pushing, which in turn causes hemorrhoids. One thing that I have learned follows: I don’t sit on the toilet until I feel the urge to expel my bowels. Sitting on the toilet causes a lot of pressure on the anus, and that in itself will cause hemorrhoids eventually. Let gravity do its job as it was intended to do! Good luck!"

• Rik...
• October 12, 2019

"I found Movantik to have worked well for me. No pains, just a reminder that if you feel you need to go, you need to move quickly. Not diarrhea either. It normally takes 1-2 hours after taking it, and I go 4-5 times usually, but not a bad experience, only relief. It really cleans you out well, and I feel great afterwards."

• Sno...
• September 5, 2020

"I have been on methadone for 9 years, and I have extremely bad constipation from it. A few months ago, I was in the ER for constipation-related problems, and the ER doctor gave me a prescription for Symproic. It worked great for a while, but didn't last long, so my GI doctor prescribed me Movantik. I took it a little before bedtime, about 20 minutes later, I started getting painful cramps and sweating. Fifteen minutes after that, I had a small BM. The cramps lasted about 2 hours, and by that time, I was in full withdrawal. I was in withdrawal all night until I took my methadone the next morning, I wasn't able to get much sleep. The Movantik did work, and the cramps were bearable, but the withdrawal was too much for me. I do not think it is worth it to take this every day, but if you don't mind the withdrawal, this medication may be worth it to you."

• Tru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 28, 2022

"**Warning** Especially for Suboxone users. Do NOT swallow a Movantik pill. What you are essentially taking is a withdrawal pill, from which there is no undoing. I drink 60 oz of SmartWater (x2 big bottles) a day and eat a fiber-rich diet, i.e., dates, almonds, oatmeal, smoothies, Fiber One bars, and I'm fine. If you travel like I do, then you will have rough patches if you fall off your routine. And if any doctors are reading this, if you are going to prescribe this horrible med, be very clear with your patient that it's very likely to plunge the user into full-blown withdrawals. If this nightmare pill has any purpose, it's for a 70-year-old war vet with a broken back that's been taking opiates for 35 years and wears an adult diaper. Otherwise, discontinue this horrible medicine."

• Con...
• October 21, 2019

"I took it very close to the same time I had taken my dose. Within an hour, I had a bowel movement, but as soon as I did, I began violently vomiting and having explosive diarrhea. My hands and feet started going numb, and I could not stop vomiting. I ended up in the ER via ambulance. I have never in my life been that ill. My BP jumped to 174/101. At the hospital, they finally got me into triage and gave me Zofran after an hour and a half. It finally eased the nausea. I had a terrible migraine to boot. Finally, once the nausea wore off, I told my mom to take me to my house, as I just wanted to lay down, so I ended up walking out, dehydrated, migraine and all. I went home and slept it off. The point of this comment is Movantik threw me into full-blown withdrawal. I had no clue what this medication was, it's naloxegol, which is like naloxone. Had I known, I'd have never even touched it, so if you're on methadone, think twice before taking it. Has anyone on methadone maintenance who has taken this medicine experienced having a positive UDS because of Movantik?"