why does pain medication, like advil and morphine, cause bowel problems?

Question

why does pain medication, like advil and morphine, cause bowel problems?

In: 4

Answer 1

For two totally different reasons. Morphine is an opiate, and opiate/oid receptors in our body have more functions than many of us realize. One of those receptors tells the smooth muscles of the gut to chill out for a while, and that can constipation.

Advil (Ibuprofen) inhibits something called prostaglandin, which is used as a complex signaling molecule in humans. One of the effects is to alter muscle tone/mobility in the stomach, as well as an effect on acid secretion in the stomach. For various reasons this can cause nausea, poor digestion, and in extreme cases ulcers.