TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of opium tincture on the enteric and central nervous systems
T2 - A randomized controlled trial
AU - Okdahl, Tina
AU - Mark, Esben Bolvig
AU - Nedergaard, Rasmus Bach
AU - Knoph, Cecilie Siggaard
AU - Cook, Mathias Ellgaard
AU - Krogh, Klaus
AU - Drewes, Asbjørn Mohr
N1 - © 2023 The Authors. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Nordic Association for the Publication of BCPT (former Nordic Pharmacological Society).
PY - 2023/5
Y1 - 2023/5
N2 - Opioids change gut motility, and opium tincture has been used for treatment of chronic diarrhoea for centuries. However, the effects have never been documented in controlled trials. We aimed to investigate the effects of opium tincture on gastrointestinal transit and motility, frequency of bowel movements, stool consistency, gastrointestinal symptoms and sedation. Twenty healthy subjects were included in this randomized controlled trial. Opium tincture or placebo was each applied for 9 days. Gastrointestinal transit and motility were investigated with the 3D-transit system. Bowel movements and gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded daily. General cognition, reaction time, memory and electroencephalography were used to assess effects on the central nervous system. Opium tincture doubled colonic transit (49 vs. 23 h, p < 0.001), decreased antegrade colonic movements (p < 0.05), reduced daily bowel movements (0.7 vs. 1.2, p < 0.001) and increased stool consistency (Type 3 vs. Type 4, p < 0.001). No changes in general cognition, reaction time or memory were observed, and minor changes of power observed by electroencephalography did not indicate sedation. This study is the first to show that opium tincture has anti-propulsive properties in the healthy gut, while no sedative effects were seen. This indicates that opium tincture is a relevant and safe treatment option in chronic diarrhoea.
AB - Opioids change gut motility, and opium tincture has been used for treatment of chronic diarrhoea for centuries. However, the effects have never been documented in controlled trials. We aimed to investigate the effects of opium tincture on gastrointestinal transit and motility, frequency of bowel movements, stool consistency, gastrointestinal symptoms and sedation. Twenty healthy subjects were included in this randomized controlled trial. Opium tincture or placebo was each applied for 9 days. Gastrointestinal transit and motility were investigated with the 3D-transit system. Bowel movements and gastrointestinal symptoms were recorded daily. General cognition, reaction time, memory and electroencephalography were used to assess effects on the central nervous system. Opium tincture doubled colonic transit (49 vs. 23 h, p < 0.001), decreased antegrade colonic movements (p < 0.05), reduced daily bowel movements (0.7 vs. 1.2, p < 0.001) and increased stool consistency (Type 3 vs. Type 4, p < 0.001). No changes in general cognition, reaction time or memory were observed, and minor changes of power observed by electroencephalography did not indicate sedation. This study is the first to show that opium tincture has anti-propulsive properties in the healthy gut, while no sedative effects were seen. This indicates that opium tincture is a relevant and safe treatment option in chronic diarrhoea.
KW - diarrhoea
KW - gastrointestinal transit
KW - motility
KW - opium tincture
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85150411745&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/bcpt.13850
DO - 10.1111/bcpt.13850
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 36851814
SN - 1742-7835
VL - 132
SP - 434
EP - 448
JO - Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
JF - Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology
IS - 5
ER -