Narcotic bowel syndrome

Abstract

Among opioid bowel dysfunction, narcotic bowel syndrome (NBS) is one of the most common abnormality. Opioid bowel syndrome can be distinguished from NBS by frequent or chronic stomach pain that is increased by using excessive dose of opioids. NBS is not much known but is increasing day by day due to excessive use of narcotics for the treatment of chronic painful disorders. It mostly occurs in those patients whose history is not related to GIT disorders. Recent studies propose three accepted mechanisms that lead to increase in pain. First is bimodal opioids regulation system, second one is counter regulated mechanism, third is glial cell activation. X-rays, CTs, MRIs, ultrasounds, colonoscopies, endoscopies, and multiple blood tests are common approaches used to diagnose NBS. Its treatment involves early diagnosis of this syndrome, doctor patient relationship, gradually discontinuing of narcotics according to specific schedule of withdrawal and taking the medications which lessen the effect of abandonment.