bowel obstruction with colic

Last reviewed 01/2018

Consult expert advice.

  • cyclizine - first line for nausea and vomiting in obstruction with colic:
    • stat dose 50mg s.c.
    • total dose 100-150mg s.c. over 24 hours

  • haloperidol may be added as second line
    • stat dose 2.5-5mg s.c.
    • total dose 2.5-10mg s.c. over 24 hours

  • dexamethasone 2-8mg per 24h may be useful as an addition

  • other treatments aimed at reducing the volume of intestinal secretions
    • hyoscine butylbromide 60-180mg/24 hours
    • if hyoscine butylbromide is ineffective then consider octreotide or a 3 day course of a 5HT3-receptor antagonist such as ondansetron

     

Reference:

  1. West Midlands Palliative Care Physicians (2003). Palliative care - guidelines for the use of drugs in symptom control.