Mu opioid receptors in both the brain and colon. One gives you pain relief, the other virtually stops colon activity. This can be treated with Relistor (a narcotic antagonist that does not cross the blood-brain barrier--but it is expensive and the dose should really be higher)
As many problems as I see dispensing hydrocodone products, changing the prescribing process will not help. Prescription monitoring programs that report all controlled substances to a central data base allow prescribers and pharmacies to identify problems like doctor shopping.
I found it interesting that Loperamide HCL hits just the opioid receptor that stops colon activity — that’s how it stops diarrhea.
Are you saying Relistor will stop the pain and not constipate you? What about the itch associated with Vicodin? Does Relistor have the same itch effect? When you say double it, do you mean if I was on 10-325 Vicodin I need to be on 20-325? What is the appropriate Relistor prescription?