Morphine-like medication is frequently administered for pain management in patients with advanced and incurable cancer. However, a known side effect of opioids is constipation resulting in abdominal pain, nausea, and even hospitalization. The OMAMA study aims to investigate if the laxatives magnesium hydroxide or macrogol/electrolytes can prevent opioid-induced constipation. The study is now open for inclusion

Opioid-induced constipation occurs in up to 59% of patients treated with opioids resulting in significant negative effect on the quality of life.

Although the Dutch national guidelines "Diagnosis and treatment of pain in patients with cancer" recommends prescribing either macrogol/electrolytes or magnesium hydroxide when starting opioids, both laxatives have not been investigated for this indication. In fact, magnesium hydroxide is not registered in the Netherlands for treatment or prevention of constipation.

The OMAMA (Obstipatie-MAcrogol-MAgnesiumhydroxide) study aims to generate scientific evidence for the prevention of opioid-induced constipation by comparing magnesium hydroxide and macrogol/electrolytes in an open-label, randomized controlled, multicenter trial.

A total of 330 patients in 11 hospitals will be included and it is expected to be completed in 2 years.

For more information and a list of patient requirements, check the OMAMA study website, or contact Kay Kistemaker.

Researchers involved at Cancer Center Amsterdam:

Kay Kistemaker

Prof. Monique Steegers

Prof. Lia van Zuylen

Funding

The study is funded by the palliative care program “Palliantie II” of the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW) and the Kuria foundation for hospice care.

Text by Kay Kistemaker and Lia van Zuylen.

This article was created for Cancer Center Amsterdam.