Opioids and the Gastrointestinal Tract – The Role of Peripherally Active m-Opioid Receptor Antagonists in Modulating Intestinal Permeability (2024) Brian E. Lacy, MD, PhD, FACG

Description

This article reviews the effects of chronic opioid use on the gastrointestinal tract, noting that opioids disrupt intestinal permeability through pathologic m-opioid receptor and Toll-like receptor signaling, leading to issues beyond standard opioid-induced constipation (OIC). The authors discuss the use of peripherally active m-opioid receptor antagonists, such as methylnaltrexone, which are effective for OIC and also help to ameliorate the opioid-induced disruption of intestinal permeability.