Naloxegol and Upset Stomach: What Users Say

• Ann...
• September 27, 2015

For Constipation, Drug Induced "I was given samples of the 25mg dose for constipation due to methadone. I took it as prescribed, 2 hours after a meal. Within an hour, I was vomiting, had severe diarrhea, and horrible stomach cramps. I ended up calling an ambulance and spending 2 days in the hospital. All my electrolytes were out of balance, my temperature dropped to 95, I was so dehydrated they could barely get blood out of me. They kept a heart monitor on me the entire time I was in the hospital. I had to be put on morphine, the pain was so bad. I was released after 2 days but am now just starting to eat again. I am usually very tolerant of new medications, but this one could have killed me. I would NEVER recommend this to anyone."

• Fro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 23, 2016

For Constipation, Drug Induced "Do not take this medication!!! 30 minutes after I took it, I had the worst stomach cramps and pains I have ever encountered. Finally, after I got everything out, I started feeling withdrawal symptoms. I tried to take my Methadone dose so the withdrawal would go away, but it didn't help. I'm sitting here right now wondering how long this stays in my system and thinking about how bad I want to curse my doctor out. I just wanted to relieve myself, not go into full withdrawal. What the heck?!"

• MzC...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 2, 2015

For Constipation, Drug Induced "After using Relistor shots as needed for my OIC (opioid-induced constipation) (which caused extreme stomach cramps and diarrhea, but it's very effective), my PM doc put me on Movantik. I didn't see results that were nearly as drastic, but it seemed to kind of work. It seems that my pain meds aren't as effective with Movantik in my system. I've had withdrawal symptoms: sweats, cramping, anxiety, yawning profusely, agitation, and my anxiety level has gone through the roof. Not worth it. It's produced BMs on occasion, but I'll stick to my stool softeners, laxatives, and drinking lots of water. I don't like the idea of having another addictive drug in my body to counteract symptoms from the first one. And feeling like crap is not a good trade. GOOD LUCK!"

• Cha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 21, 2016

For Constipation, Drug Induced "I took Movantik on a Saturday morning, and 15 minutes later, I started having gas-like pain, sharp pain in the upper abdomen, and it just moved to my intestines. It felt like contractions, so it felt like a stomach spasm. The pain level went from a 5 to a 200 in no time. I remember telling my husband to drive me to the ER because I've never felt that before. So, sure enough, 3 minutes into our drive, I started vomiting violently, and the stomach spasms were just 1,000 times worse. I would rather have 3 children in a row than go through that pain. At least I knew after that 3rd baby I would be done. I couldn't stop vomiting. The ER kept thinking I was on it to take me off the painkillers. Nobody understood me, I just wanted to die."

• Que...
• November 24, 2019

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "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."

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

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "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."

• Hop...
• October 31, 2015

For Constipation, Drug Induced "I get violently sick. I vomit, migraine, stomach cramps, and lingering headache after a 24-hour period. But I am so desperate sometimes I put myself through it to feel better for a couple of days after. I can't take it every day or I would never be able to leave home because of side effects."

• Dia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 22, 2016

For Constipation, Drug Induced "I have been on a small amount of Methadone, 5 mg twice daily. I can only go to the bathroom like 1 - 2 times a week, and then it's little hard balls. I took Movantik, 25 mg 1 time and went within 1 hour. That would have been okay, but then a few minutes later my stomach hurt, I mean really hurt. I was in tears. Then I went again. Well, I have gone so much it is pure water now, and I will not take this again. I would be scared to try the 12.5 mg. No withdrawal symptoms, but the runs. Well, the last time I had this that bad my kidneys were shutting down, so I fear for this. Cannot eat or drink anything, it runs right through me... Be careful, I would try the lower amount first and see how that goes."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 11, 2017

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "Been on methadone for a year now, currently at 30 mg and tapering down. Tried Movantik and had horrible side effects-intense abdominal pain, stomach spasms which caused uncontrollable vomiting, sweating, withdrawal symptoms that put me in bed for the day. Almost went to the ER. THANK YOU to the person who posted on Feb 26th! Magnesium Oxide 500 mg and Docusate Sodium stool softener 100 mg... I never thought I'd go from clumped marbles, hard as rocks to a smooth, non-painful BM, but this has done wonders for me. Took 3-4 of each at night to start and I was blown away. Now taking 1-2 of each and it's still working. I just wish I knew about this months ago. Buy generic, less than $10 at Walmart. Give it a try if Movantik has failed you!"

• Blu...
• July 22, 2020

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "This Movantik is so awful I believe it caused me to have my intestines tear, caused me to have emergency surgery and a foot of my intestines removed. I also had to wear a colostomy bag for seven months, thankfully, I was able to have the reversal, but I would never use this again. I use stool softeners and MiraLAX. When I did use this drug, it caused me to have horrible stomach cramps, sweats, nausea, and vomiting. I hope they allow this to be posted."

• Nur...
• August 5, 2017

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I have been dealing with chronic pain for over 5 years, in which I've had to take opioids on and off. After 3 failed surgeries in an attempt to relieve my pain, I decided to see a pain management doctor who has put me on a daily regimen of opiates. I've tried Amitiza, Linzess, and of course fiber, Miralax, laxatives, and enemas. None of these have worked like Movantik. It's been truly a miracle drug. I take it first thing in the morning with my other meds and coffee, but I don't eat until an hour later, as the directions say, and it works every time. I've never had diarrhea, horrible stomach cramps, nausea, etc. It just makes me have a large, normal, and complete BM in the morning, and that's it. It's been a life saver for me."

• Hor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2019

For Constipation, Chronic "This stuff is horrible! I took 1 dose, 25 mg, within 30-40 minutes, I started getting a really gassy stomach, really distended. Then the abdominal pain and cramping started. It was the worst thing I have ever endured. I almost went to the hospital, it was so incredibly bad. Sweating, yawning, explosive diarrhea. After 24 hours, the cramping and extreme pain have subsided significantly but still have a little. By 36 hours, my stomach feels really bloated, but most of the other side effects have subsided. Thank God! I tell you, that was the WORST experience I have ever endured. No one should take this toxic poison."

• Hor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2019

For Constipation, Chronic "This stuff is horrible! I took 1 dose, 25 mg, within 30-40 minutes, I started getting a really gassy stomach, really distended. Then the abdominal pain and cramping started. It was the worst thing I have ever endured. I almost went to the hospital, it was so incredibly bad. Sweating, yawning, explosive diarrhea. After 24 hours, the cramping and extreme pain have subsided significantly but still have a little. By 36 hours, my stomach feels really bloated, but most of the other side effects have subsided. Thank God! I tell you, that was the WORST experience I have ever endured. No one should take this toxic poison."

• Hor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2019

For Constipation, Chronic "This stuff is horrible! I took 1 dose, 25 mg, within 30-40 minutes, I started getting a really gassy stomach, really distended. Then the abdominal pain and cramping started. It was the worst thing I have ever endured. I almost went to the hospital, it was so incredibly bad. Sweating, yawning, explosive diarrhea. After 24 hours, the cramping and extreme pain have subsided significantly but still have a little. By 36 hours, my stomach feels really bloated, but most of the other side effects have subsided. Thank God! I tell you, that was the WORST experience I have ever endured. No one should take this toxic poison."

• Mad...
• March 26, 2016

For Constipation, Drug Induced "The medication worked very quickly, but I had severe stomach cramps and nausea for several hours. This was a miserable experience, one that I can't imagine subjecting myself to on a daily basis. I also experienced some mild withdrawal type symptoms: muscle cramps in my legs and some mild anxiousness."

• Nel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 23, 2016

For Constipation, Drug Induced "I started taking Movantik four months ago. At first, it was like a miracle. I had a bowel movement soon after taking it in the AM. As time went on, my bowel movements became days apart, and I needed to supplement with Senna and Dulcolax. I try to eat as much fiber as possible. I'm going to try milk of magnesia. I must say that my stools are very seldom hard, and I'm very happy because hard stools caused so much pain that lasted several days. I did have gas and stomach cramps but rarely anything really unpleasant."

• Nic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 25, 2017

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I've been on it for a week, and man does it work. Within 15-25 minutes, I'm going to the restroom 3 or more times. I take it when I know I have nothing to do for at least an hour or two because you don't want to be running errands when it starts to work, as you will never make it home or to a restroom in time. I am on pain medication for 4 failed fusion back surgeries, and I was drinking Miralax 3 times a day as the doctor recommended, but I couldn't leave the house because I was always running to the bathroom. When taking this pill, I can plan days where I take it hours before my errands, and it runs its course before I have to go, or I'll take it at night when I know I'm staying home the rest of the night. I have had stomach aches and a growling stomach. It does give you some withdrawal."

• Dai...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 3, 2017

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I have to take daily opiates due to chronic back pain despite three back surgeries, including lumbar fusion. I tried everything but always would ultimately get backed up. I tried Movantik at one point a couple of years ago, but it gave me bad stomach cramps, so I quit. At that time, I had some partial impaction. I recently did a magnesium citrate flush, like prepping for a colonoscopy. I then tried Movantik again and have a bowel movement within an hour or so. I do get some stomach cramps but only for 1-2 hours. Taking 1-2 doses of Miralax a day can help if the stool is hard. The big negative is cost."

• Tan...
• May 12, 2018

For Constipation, Drug Induced "I took this one time, and I will never take this again. I took it 12 hours ago and have been up the entire night with explosive diarrhea. Chills, stomach ache, feeling like I'm dying. But the absolute worst part is, it feels as though I've been stripped of my pain medication, so I am in so much back pain that I've been crying. Nothing will stop it, and I've even taken more pain relief this morning. I really felt like going to the hospital, I'm in so much pain."

• MRE...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2023

"I have PPMS and Chronic Idiopathic Axonal Polyneuropathy, which causes chronic constipation. As opioids came 'on board,' I progressed from OTC to Linzess. It worked for a while until it became increasingly ineffective as maladies were obliged to progress. Finally, I had to try Movantik 12.5 mg. It induced a small movement in one hour. In less than two hours, I was having what I can only describe as a reaction just short of anaphylactic. My stomach and GI went crazy, my sensory/motor nervous system went awry. I was truly petrified, and this lasted for hours. I was not fully recovered until the end of a sleepless night. Obviously, I am back on the max dose of Linzess and Miralax for what it is worth. Perhaps an upcoming colonoscopy will shed some light. The reviews on Movantik are distributed in an unusual dichotomy. It seems this med is a miracle or a flop (euphemistic). For me, it was the latter. This is a nasty problem, and I hope for more folks it turns out the former."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2022

For Opioid-Induced Constipation "I've been on oxys for almost a year now and started to have major constipation, tried every laxative too. Some help, but they told me, 'It's not good to be taking laxatives every day due to how hard it is on kidneys.' So she put me on Movantik, and it worked in the first hour, but I have stomach cramps and spasms, and the effects from my medication are not effective even though I took two 15s of oxys. It feels like I'm starting to withdraw a little bit. Praying it gets better tomorrow, but at least I poop my guts out. I should be good for a few days. Good luck, everybody, pray all works out good for you guys. There's just got to be another way."