5 Key Takeaways

• 1

  Tramadol is associated with the lowest risk of severe constipation among opioids, according to a study of over 80,000 patients.

• 2

  Morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, and opioid combinations are linked to higher rates of severe constipation compared to tramadol.

• 3

  Severe constipation was defined by the administration of an enema or suppository in the study.

• 4

  Patients taking more than 50 morphine milligram equivalents per day faced significantly higher risks of severe constipation.

• 5

  The study utilized hospital electronic health records from 2009 to 2020, focusing on adults treated for noncancer pain.