Alvimopan: An oral, peripherally acting, μ-opioid receptor antagonist for the treatment of opioid-induced bowel dysfunction-A 21-day treatment-randomized clinical trial

Patients treated with chronic opioid therapy often experience opioid-induced bowel dysfunction as a result of undesirable effects on peripheral opioid receptors located in the gastrointestinal tract. Alvimopan, a novel peripheral opioid μ-receptor antagonist, has demonstrated significant efficacy for the management of opioid-induced bowel dysfunction without compromise of centrally mediated opioid-induced analgesia.