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Short answer Living with alvimopan: what to watch for Common questions Related questions Sources**The most common side effects of alvimopan are indigestion, constipation, gas, back pain, low potassium, anemia, and trouble passing urine.**
Alvimopan (brand name Entereg) is a hospital-only medicine given for a few days after bowel surgery to help your intestines start moving again, so its side effects show up while you are still being monitored. Because it blocks opioid effects in the gut without blocking pain relief, some people get belly cramping or loose stools, and that is more likely if you were taking opioids regularly before surgery. It carries a boxed warning about a higher rate of heart attack seen in a long-term study of people using opioids for chronic pain, which is why use is capped at 15 doses in the hospital. Your team will check your potassium and blood counts and watch how your bowels and bladder respond. Report severe diarrhea, worsening belly pain, chest pain, or inability to urinate right away.
Living with alvimopan: what to watch for
Common questions
What are the side effects of Alvimopan?
Alvimopan (Entereg) is given in the hospital for a short time after bowel surgery to help your gut start working again. The most common side effects are indigestion, constipation, gas, low potassium, back pain, anemia, and trouble passing urine. Because it blocks opioids in the gut, some people get cramping or diarrhea, more so if they used opioids regularly before surgery. It carries a boxed warning about a higher rate of heart attack with long-term use, so it is limited to 15 doses and is never sent home with you. Tell your nurse about severe diarrhea, chest pain, or trouble urinating.