Chronic Constipation ICD-10-CM Codes

Read this short guide and learn about chronic constipation ICD codes you can use.

By Wynona Jugueta on Aug 8, 2025.

Fact Checked by Karina Jimenea.

Use Code

What are Chronic Constipation ICD-10-CM Codes?

If you’re looking for chronic constipation ICD codes you can use, here are some that you can use:

K59.09 - Other constipation: This code is used for types of constipation that do not have more specific codes, including slow transit constipation, outlet dysfunction constipation, and drug-induced constipation
K59.04 - Chronic idiopathic constipation: This code is used when constipation does not fall into specific categories is correct. It serves as a catch-all for constipation types without dedicated codes.
K59.00 - Constipation, unspecified: This code is used when constipation is confirmed but the type is unspecified. It can be used for chronic constipation if no further diagnosis or specification is documented, including cases of functional constipation, opioid induced constipation, or systemic causes.

Are these chronic constipation ICD codes billable?

Yes. All three mentioned above chronic constipation-related ICD-10 codes are valid and billable examples used by providers during clinical encounters.

Clinical information

Constipation is a condition that everyone will likely experience in their lives. When a person is constipated, they will have a difficult time pooping (regularly) and bowel movement. Even if someone has trouble pooping, that doesn't mean a constipated patient cannot poop. They do, and what they release is often hard and dry, and they can either be unusually large or small. If the stool is large, some constipated people might feel a little pain while pooping it out, especially in cases of fecal impaction, rectal prolapse, or spasm of the colon.

In the case of this mini-guide, patients' constipation is chronic, meaning they consistently become constipated now and then, even with enough exercise, fiber-rich diet, or medications for treatment of opioid or drug-induced constipation.

A constipated person will likely have the following symptoms besides the few we mentioned above:

They only poop three times a week or less
They will feel bloated and, by extension, nauseated
They might have stomachaches and cramps
They may feel incomplete defecation or experience painful attempts at defecation

Synonyms include

Constipation due to neurogenic bowel
Constipation due to spasm of colon
Drug-induced constipation
Perceived constipation
Simple constipation
Therapeutic opioid-induced constipation

Other related codes

Additional related constipation codes (not strictly chronic but relevant) include:

K59.01 - Slow transit constipation (chronic type characterized by infrequent stools difficult to pass)
K59.02 - Outlet dysfunction constipation

These are also billable and describe specific constipation subtypes

Commonly asked questions

Only a few ICD-10-CM codes, like K59.04 for chronic idiopathic constipation, explicitly include "chronic constipation" in their names. However, related conditions such as opioid induced constipation and slow transit constipation are covered under other applicable diagnosis codes.

Constipation can be caused by a low-fiber diet, inadequate fluid intake, lack of exercise, or certain medications such as opioids. It may also stem from medical conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), neurological disorders, or disruptions in the digestive system.

Treatment for constipation often includes increasing fiber and fluid intake, regular physical activity, and using over-the-counter laxatives if needed. In more chronic or drug-induced cases, prescription medications or targeted therapies may be required under a provider’s care.

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