THERAPEUTICS
Methylnaltrexone reduced opioid-induced constipation in patients with terminal illness
| The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below. |
J Thomas
Dr J Thomas, San Diego Hospice and Palliative Care, San Diego, CA, USA; jthomas@sdhospice.org
STUDY DESIGN
randomised placebo controlled trial.
unclear allocation concealment.*
blinded (patients, healthcare providers, and outcome assessors).*
STUDY QUESTION
27 nursing homes, hospice sites, and palliative care centres in the USA and Canada.
133 patients 
18 years of age (median age 71 y, 57% women) who had terminal illness with life expectancy 1 month, were receiving opioids for analgesia, and had opioid-induced constipation (<3 laxations in the previous wk or no laxation in the previous 48 h, despite having taken laxatives for 3 d).
subcutaneous methylnaltrexone, 0.15 mg/kg body weight (n = 62), or placebo (n = 71) every other day for 2 weeks. Laxatives could be taken as needed but not within 4 hours of the study drug.
rescue-free laxation within 4 hours after the first dose and within 4 hours after 2 of the first 4 doses,
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA
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