Medications cause constipation

A frequently over-looked cause constipation is medications.The most common offending medications include: Narcotic pain medications such as codeine (for example, Tylenol #3), oxycodone (for example, Percocet), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid); Antidepressants such as amitriptyline (Elavil, Endep) and imipramine (Tofranil) Anticonvulsants such as phenytoin (Dilantin) and carbamazepine (Tegretol) Iron supplements Calcium channel blocking drugs such as diltiazem (Cardizem) and nifedipine (Procardia) Aluminum-containing antacids such as aluminum hydroxide suspension (Amphojel) and aluminum carbonate (Basaljel)In addition to the medications listed above, there are many others that can cause constipation. Simple measures(for example, increasing dietary fiber) for treating the constipation caused bymedications are often are effective, and discontinuing the medication is notnecessary. If simple measures don't work, it may be possible to substitute aless constipating medication. For example, a nonsteroidal ant-inflammatorydrug (for example, ibuprofen) may be substituted for narcotic pain medications.Additionally, one of the newer and less constipation antidepressant medications(for example, fluoxetine [Prozac]) may be substituted for amitriptyline and imipramine.