Movantik for Opioid-Related Esophageal Disorders

To date, few studies have assessed the effect of opioids on esophageal motility, mostly assessed the effect of single-dose intravenous morphine on esophageal motility. Recently a large retrospective study assessing the effect of opioids on esophageal motility found that esophageal motor dysfunction are common in chronic opioid users whether studied on opioids and off opioids. In addition, current opioid users also had significantly higher integrated relaxation pressure and manometric patterns consistent with type III achalasia. (Ratuapli 2015) Peripherally acting mu opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORA) appear to be useful to reduce the peripheral effects of mu opioid receptor agonists to delay gastrointestinal transit without affecting the centrally mediated analgesic effects. MOVANTIK™ (Naloxegol) is the first oral peripherally acting mu opioid receptor antagonists for opioid-induced constipation. MOVANTIK™ (Naloxegol) has been recently approved for opioid-induced constipation. Given orally, 25 mg daily it improves symptoms of constipation. At this dose, MOVANTIK™ (Naloxegol) is effective and safe, with a limited side effect profile and is associated with preservation of centrally mediated analgesia. This study will explore the safety and tolerability of MOVANTIK™ (Naloxegol) in this patient population. The investigational hypothesis is that MOVANTIK™ (Naloxegol) could improve opioid- induced esophageal motility disorders