Opioids act as analgesics by acting on opioid receptors in the central nervous system, but because opioid receptors are also present in the periphery, such as in the gastrointestinal tract, patients may experience some degree of abnormal gastrointestinal function when taking opioids orally, with constipation being the most common symptom. As opioids reduce peristalsis, water absorption in the intestine, gastrointestinal chloride secretion is inhibited, and diastole of the pyloric and anal internal sphincters is reduced. This condition, reported in approximately 47% of takers and more common in women and older patients, is the greatest risk factor for long-term opioid use, severely affecting patients’ quality of life and ability to work, compromising the efficacy of pain management, and leading to the development of serious clinical complications such as injected bowel obstruction and fecal impaction. The current treatment of opioid-induced constipation is mainly based on the use of a number of non-specific laxatives, and other available methods include the use of different opioids, increased intake of fluids and fiber components, exercise, the use of OTC stool softeners, and natural dietary supplements. These methods which are easily tolerated and accessible to patients can be used as first line treatment. To better treat constipation due to opioids, a group of U.S. experts conducted some explorations in a recent issue of the Journal of Pain Medicine. They first harmonized the assessment of bowel function by proposing the Bowel Function Index (BFI) as a clinical tool to effectively assess opioid-induced constipation. And accordingly, they proposed that when a patient has a BFI ≥30 or responds poorly to first-line therapy, they should be considered for treatment with a prescription medication. Based on the current market, they recommend the use of peripheral opioid receptor antagonists (PAMORAs) such as methylnaltrexone, naloxegol, or the use of rubiprostone. Although a certain number of patients can achieve satisfactory results with the above methods, a significant number of patients still cannot. In fact pain management for certain diseases has the potential to gradually increase opioid use as the disease progresses. Constipation and other symptoms such as anorexia and lethargy can seriously affect the quality of patient survival, and through reasonable and effective interventions, opioid dependence can be reduced, thereby decreasing the adverse drug reactions and allowing patients to achieve a more stable efficacy. This article is authorized for release by Dr. Li-Ying Chen.