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Narcotic bowel syndrome (NBS) is characterized by unexplained abdominal pain that is treated with opioids and persists or worsens while opioid doses are maintained or increased. NBS can be — but is not necessarily — associated with opioid-related dysmotility (e.g., constipation, gastroparesis, ileus). University of North Carolina researchers describe outcomes for 39 patients (34 inpatients, 5 outpatients) treated in their NBS detoxification program. Patients had been receiving opioids for an average of 5 years; at enrollment, the mean dose was 75 mg of intravenous morphine equivalents daily, with oral drugs (e.g., Oxycontin, MS Contin, hydromorphone) or fentanyl patches.
Opioids were tapered off during an average of 7 days for inpatients and…