title: Novel opioid antagonists for opioid-induced bowel dysfunction and postoperative ileus.
abstract: Methylnaltrexone and alvimopan are two new and potentially useful agents in the management of opioid-induced bowel dysfunction and prevention of postoperative ileus. Both agents have promising prokinetic properties and appear to be capable of reversing the effects of opioids on delayed gastrointestinal transit. This article reviews currently available published literature to provide an overview of the clinical trials and to provide insight for the potential use of these agents for patients requiring opioid based analgesia. These compounds represent a new class of compounds that may impact the therapeutics for opioid induced bowel dysfunction as well as postoperative ileus.
authors.affiliation: University of Florida Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, Department of Pharmacy, Jacksonville, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Neyens
authors.forename: Kenneth C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Jackson
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects; D005772:Gastrointestinal Transit / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D007410:Intestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy*; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010880:Piperidines; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C032257:methylnaltrexone; D009271:Naltrexone; C419502:alvimopan