Pain management

The cause of abdominal pain in gastroparesis is not well understood, and treatments have significant limitations. Medications for pain can often counteract the beneficial effects of prokinetic or antiemetic agents, and may even make the symptoms of gastroparesis worse. While some patients do find a suitable combination of medications, others may require the administration of strong medications for severe pain. Unfortunately, opiates can slow down the digestive system even further, and may also result in dependence or addiction, so should be avoided as they lead to worse long term problems, even if they seem to help pain in the short term. Clearly, there is a delicate balance in managing the symptoms of gastroparesis and it may take time to discover the best option for you. Generally, non-opiate pain relieving medications and psychological interventions are preferred. This may require the involvement of pain management specialists.