From one who has been there, frankly, there are two options in my opinion. The night after arriving home I was admitted into the hospital with a Small Bowel Blockage, worse pain than child birth. I became so costipated I eventually had blocked intestines and surgery. Lactulose … Yes, I know I should check with my doctor of which I will shortly. But I am always up for trying again. I was put on it "when needed" lately I get short of breath and even light headed and feel better when I take it, worried about Heart, but blood pressure is good and Doctor just says it's my IBS, when it feels like something is constricting my heart. Stop feeding your kids un- nutritional food like McDonald's Happy Meals and ramen noodles and fish sticks!! Toilet Training. Also eliminate any harsh colon cleansing treatments. Taking a laxative on a daily basis is going to stop your intestines from Contracting on their own and that is a bigger problem than probably what you're dealing with. It's really scary, but I've been checked at the doc for everything heart, brain etc and they say everything is normal. At present I only have to take it every 2-3 days or when I get to feeling blocked up. They have also responded. doc. Having diarrhea is very irritating to the rectum and hemorrhoids. I usually have a bowel movement every day when following that regimen. We started on miralax at 3 months old. So if anyone out there has found a similar case and a solution let us know. Soluble and insoluble fiber are very beneficial to our health. His gastro put him on Miralax adult dose everyday since she diagnosed him with chronic constipation. They need fruits and veggies, more veggies than fruits!! I've took it for years my husband wonders because of my age now 50 if that is causing small tears, skin redness and puffiness between my vaginia and my anus. I have tryed everthing know to man,my doctor/a gastro. Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Men's Health Watch. He gets daily vitamins/minerals and probiotics too. Miralax is the ONLY thing that lets me go! Subscribe to Drugs.com newsletters for the latest medication news, new drug approvals, alerts and updates. Laxative overdose occurs when someone takes more than the normal or recommended amount of this medicine. Do not take more than the recommended daily dose. Fortunately it resolved itself after a few days in the hospital, avoiding surgery. My son who is going to be 4 in September has been taking adult doses of MiraLax everyday for the past year and a half. Even prunes do not help. 2016;29(2):137–146. As long as you can have a bowel movement twice a week, you will be okay. I have tried high fiber, large amounts of water, and all of the other things that work for other people, but not for me. If your constipation symptoms go on for too long, or you … I would think a diet of pears and other fiber rich foods would be better for your son. He doesn't even like ice cream. It should only be used for a short time. My heart and bowels are now regular. Sorry. I learned that for me - THEY ARE NOT! Excuse me for commenting, but your son is 4 and taking adult doses of Miralax? Copyright © 2021 Leaf Group Ltd., all rights reserved. It is a stool softener. Anyways,I’m still a pretty young teen so I would definitely like a better alternative. These laxatives should … Is the Miralax Pill as effective as the Miralax Powder? Yea I've had my heart start racing and I'll get lightheaded, but after I use the restroom having a BM made it better. My 84 year old friend has lost a good part of her memory and has never taken Miralax. MiraLax - When is the best time to take it? Trfied them all only to cause my constipation to go to the totally opposite. Check local listings, or ask your doctor for more information. I took him to a pediatric gastro at 3 years old because ever since he has been on table food he screams and cries when he has to go. You should get on the Facebook page of Parents Against Miralax. This process can take several months, but your colon will be healthier in the end. I give it to my cat that suffers chronic constipation. IF IT STOPS OUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM FROM CONTRACTING ON ITS OWN, WHAT DO YOU THINK IT'S DOING TO A SMALL CHILD? Data sources include IBM Watson Micromedex (updated 2 Feb 2021), Cerner Multum™ (updated 3 Feb 2021), ASHP (updated 29 Jan 2021) and others. Osmotic and stimulant laxatives for the management of childhood constipation. Water consumption is very important for Miralax to work! In fact, I have the same question: that is how long can one take it continuously. And this becomes more relevant when the Directions on the bottle itself clearly prescribes "Take no more than 7 days". At least now I don't have to take Miralax or magnesium t this point. The answer to your question is yes- all the things you mention are associated with long term laxative use/abuse. At the end of the day, IF YOUR DOCTOR recommends it, believe he or she knows what he/she is talking about. If you had laxative abuse above a year, you need to retrain my body to go to … I have concerns of the long-term use of ANY drug... Blessings. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD009118.pub3, Bechtold ML, Mir F, Puli SR, Nguyen DL. A laxative is a medicine used to produce bowel movements. I'm healthy, low body weight(heavy genetics in my family) and feel better than ever. My mom is 84 she had been told by doctors to take miralax for the long term. It was another pedi gastroenterologist that put him on the Miralax. Anyone else have this problem? I fly for a living. The longer you take laxatives the longer you will need them. I have had similar experiences. However, this did not help either. It can come about when people try to self-medicate their chronic constipation, or when people abuse laxatives for weight loss. These three actions are the most important and effective things you can do to get your sluggish colon working back to normal. Whether Miralax contributes to dementia or Alzheimers I don't know. I then stopped taking it five months ago and still have loose bowel movements two to four times a morning. Once he was old enough for solids, we tried high fiber foods again; no change. I am a senior citizen who was instructed by my gastroenterologist a number of years ago to take MiraLax every day the rest of my life due to a history of constipation and a bout with diverticulitis.Recently while visiting family for a week in another state, I didn't take the time to take MiraLax. Can I take Miralax every day for IBS with constipation if there`re no side effects? Your body forgets how to do things on it's own when it depends on medicines. Some people think it’s dementia or Alzheimer’s. I was very active teen, high-school football, basketball track, wrestling and maintain a healthy lifestyle as an adult running marathons. This is not a … No more gritty taste. Magnesium worked great in the beginning but I was taking way too much as it started acting like a laxative. After a few days taking it every day I can go to once every other day and see how it works and adjust the dosage accordingly..(I tried 1/3 dosage and it works also... (once that's in in your system) It has been a life saver..no more constipation.. The stool is so soft, almost like diarrhea. His dosage is down to 1 cap every other day (to keep him going). Common side effects may include: gas, bloating; diarrhea; or. nausea,l bloating, stomach pain, major abdominal cramps, etc.) MiraLax - How long does it take for mural ax to work? I spoke to my gastro doc about taking Konsyl - similar to Metamucil but better - with Miralax to keep your stools more solid and avoid the mess. It took forever for that to begin working. I'm on a very, very low-carb. Believe Milk of Magnesia is derived from magnesium. Optimizing bowel preparation for colonoscopy: a guide to enhance quality of visualization. The FDA reported in 2014 that there were 13 deaths due to misuse of laxatives, also adding that your kidneys could be damaged in the long run if you aren't careful about how many you take … My question for you all is, did the Miralax help those symptoms as well as the constipation? If anyone out there finds answers that might help please pass along. Like your son if I take her off the Miralax she is stop up. I have not found anything that works as well as MiraLAX. It concerns we as well for her to take the Miralax so often, but her GI doctor also feels its safe. Thanks @roosky, I think you’re answer really helped a lot and I’ll have to give your advice a try. 4 years ago, after my colonoscopy, my GI doctor told me to take 1 dose of Myralax everyday for the rest of my life. Mt Gastroenterologist Dr. told me that I can take Miralax , if needed, up to twice a day. What total bull. Don't go cold turkey on all of your bowel aides; keep taking the gentle medications. I personally will take the latter. Many safe, effective over-the-counter laxatives … If you or someone you know suffers from laxative dependency, here are some steps you can take to help reverse this condition. Acid-base abnormalities: Too much laxatives can cause an acid-base imbalance in the body, which is supposed to maintain the functions of all our vital organs. I can't stop taking a capful daily. What time of the day is best to take Miralax? Also my son is the best eater in the house. Basically it just draws water into the colon to keep the stool soft sort of like a stool softener. Do not take for more than a week without consulting your doctor. In one study, about 11 percent of those taking … I suffered from constipation from when I was a kid to now a male adult late 30's. I was always dealing with stomach pain due to constipation and bloating. And let it be known we've tried it all as well such as prunes, fiber rich foods and we've even got him on a gluten free/dairy free diet for the past year now and it hasn't helped his constipation. This article was written by a professional writer, copy edited and fact checked through a multi-point auditing system, in efforts to ensure our readers only receive the best information. I also have to take 2-doses of MiraLAX daily. Forgot to ask him how much, so I started taking two 400 mg capsules with food twice a day. Just do it. I caution you to start very, very slow as it will make you feel sick at first if you take the recommended dosage. I have been using Miralax for years upon the doctor's recommendation, and it has saved my life of chronic constipation. It's no more than $1.50 a bottle, and it will not make you dependant. Here are answers to common questions to help you better … All About Laxatives. To submit your questions or ideas, or to simply learn more, see our about us page: link below. they are good for you. I also experience rectal bleeding every now and then. Laxative dependency is the result of overusing laxatives and stool softeners to the point where one cannot have a bowel movement without such medicinal aides. Updated September 25, 2019. I would take the time the know the difference; miralax use long term is NOT healthy. Then the thought came to me that I may be allergic to the foods I've been told are healthy. Some types of laxatives are harsher than others and can result in diarrhea, abdominal cramping, and other nasty side effects if you take too much. I had 2 colonoscopies in my late 20's worried this could be signs of colon cancer or crohn's but findings came back clear. Clin Colon Rectal Surg. 2012;25(1):12–19. But he's also been hospitalized for impacted poops and needed a barium enema (talk about a blow out) and don't want it to get to that point again because it must be harsh on his little body. I explained that I am regular and my stool is soft - sometimes so much that I have to run to the bathroom. Ann Gastroenterol. Now I know better and wish someone would have recommended to me Vitamin C daily. I was taking many of stool softeners daily before to keep going like a few times a week. It works when I take it but I’ve been concerned if my body will just depend on it and not be able to function on it’s own in the long run. For the parents of the kids with bowel issues.Some things that helped me as a kid were:*Rubbing my stomach from right to left then left to right with slight pressure*taking benifiber*not eating as much sugar breads or milk products(I'm not intolerant to them just helps my body to not eat them as much)*Warm baths*laying on your stomach. If you've ever been constipated, you may have tried over-the-counter laxatives. Updated July 12, 2018. Provide a daily dose of miralax and have a happy, regular (bowels) child. If your son has only gone because of Miralax for a year and a half you need to find out how to wean him off of it letting his body learn how to do it on his own like nature intended. Taking just one laxative too many could lead to potentially fatal side effects, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has warned. Spinal dr put me on opioids for pain relief. It may cause dependability but it has embettered my quality of life by one hundred percent. The doctors do not seem to think that there is any problem in this (they are the ones who put him on the medication at the dosage he is taking), so I think it is pretty safe to say that it is okay to take MiraLax for a long period of time. I am experimenting, but it is hard to find a solution that either does not confine one to home morning or evening or doesn't leave one questioning whether they have eliminated completely. I hope I can help anyone reading this post. I take Miralax everyday sometimes 2 times a day. Also researching side effects of any other prescriptions taken might be helpful. Please check with your local pharmacist and ask if this is correct. Fiber does nothing for me but constipated me worse. In 2012 I had a bad fall and compression fractures . mild nausea. If the acid levels … I ate fiber rich foods, no change. Doctor gave me prescription cream also. Good luck, I hope this helps someone. It's best to take senna at bedtime so it works … But it works for him and its been a little over a year now. I will probably go to a gastrointerologist if the loose bowels continue. No miralax with high fiber diet and deal with a screaming, hurting child who CANNOT produce a bowl movement. https://www.drugs.com/cg/constipation-discharge-care.htmlhttps://www.drugs.com/health-guide/constipation-and-impaction.html. Wish I had been using Mira lax then. I relate to digital removal and it is embarrassing! Anyone else relate? MD. Cutting Miralax dosage and spreading them days apart helped me from being too loose. The unpleasant taste produced by some hyperosmotic laxatives may be improved by following each dose with citrus fruit juice or citrus-flavored carbonated beverage. Laxatives. Since I was having irregular heart beats my cardiologist suggested I take over the counter magnesium. Overuse or extended use of any laxatives can cause dependence for bowel function. Between bowel movements and when I went to the ER once a doc finally put me on Miralax a few times a day for a few days, until regular and then once a day. My doctor recommended it to me, strictly because it will not make you … Yea I use it daily for chronic constipation. Very disappointing too! My husband is in Chemo and is taking Prednazone with treatment. My daughter is 4 and she is also on miralax twice a day. If I do not take the Miralax then I get very impacted with stool. Now, my son is doing better. And there's all kinds of ways to dress them up to make them more appealing to a child! I am 60 years old and had trouble with IBS most of my adult life. Different types of laxatives work in different ways. // Leaf Group Lifestyle, Portalatin M, Winstead N. Medical management of constipation. Do a Google search for Konsyl but buy it at Walmart - much cheaper. Tucks, hemorrhoid creams, etc just don't work for the severe burning irritation irritation. If we go too much longer than every other day without the medicine, my son gets constipated again. They send the info to the FDA so it's documented. THERE ARE OTHER THINGS TO GIVE YOUR CHILD THAT ARE SAFER. His Oncologist put him on Miralax for enhanced regularity once he was dis-impacted. Wonder if that would help you. Stimulant laxatives can be taken by mouth or by suppository. The problem I am having is finding a dose that creates consistent results that I can rely on every day to avoid an embarrassing accident. I did Lax a clear with the MiraLax & went all day, until the next morning and it ended up hurting my bum! A couple years ago my gastrin ologist also recommended a daily dose of Miralax. I can't imagine what life is going to be like taking a laxative on a daily basis. My new doc flatly agreed with the previous one and told me to get on it. If he goes a good bit, maybe you are forcing his body to clean out so it will take a few days to fill up again. Overuse of laxatives (other than bulk formers) can result in the intestines losing muscle and nerve response, which can lead to dependency on laxatives to have a bowel movement. I hope this helps someone else out there suffering like I was. To give up bread and dairy products at first I thought, WHY? It's been a life saver! I still wasn't happy with the answers and continued to look for answers even started to pray for answers to come. AND I WOULD BE CHANGING DIET MORE THAN I WOULD BE GIVING MEDICINE!! Updated June 10, 2019. I have a 12 year old son that was having problems with constipation and his pediatrician put him on miralax daily also. Up date on my previous comment regarding magnesium taking the place of Miralax. ... one knows how many … I found actually high fiber worsened my IBS to a severe painful level to where I thought I was having heart attacks and have go to the doctor or ER. Thank you for your comment. It has worked perfect for me! You may be surprised at how many pills and how much liquid medicine you consume in a month! My 4 year old has had constipation issues from the time he started eating slid foods. I am on a medication for the long term that causes severe constipation. The easiest way to lookup drug information, identify pills, check interactions and set up your own personal medication records. He eats the proper amount of fiber, but it doesn't keep him regular. There have been many adverse effects reported. It also gave me diarrhea. no bowel movement. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Available for Android and iOS devices. I finally tried some Miralax about 2 months ago. Had to back off to two a day. iI am a chair bound massive stroke victim of 10 years now & have always had chronic constipation. Types of laxatives. I tried most every laxative on the market to have occasional relief. Try searching for what you seek or ask your own question. I think it's the texture. After spine surgery my gastroenterologist told me it is fine for daily use. He was tested and and is negative. What a life saver it has been. If you have questions, we have answers. After the onset on the anemia, I felt all of the symptoms you mentioned such as a racing heart, light headedness, warmth and tingling all over; not all the time, very randomly and thhat's whats puzzling me. He said fine to take both. Severe symptoms are most likely in people who abuse laxatives by taking large amounts to lose weight. His pediatrician knows he's on it daily and backs up the gastro so as long as the docs agree and my boy can have a happy healthy day I am trusting they know what they are doing. Laxative dependency is the result of overusing laxatives and stool softeners to the point where one cannot have a bowel movement without such medicinal aides. This may take some getting used to, especially if you rely on laxatives daily. Senna takes about 8 hours to work. Sometimes I even have to move to every other day. I'm 37 yrs old and 10 years ago something happened in my GI system. I generally have been pain free and have been able to have daily BM's. From my experiece with my daughter. In my 30's STILL having problems and was taking Miralax every day with my morning shakes. I have tryed everthing know to man,my doctor/a gastro. I've been on Miralax for several years and have been experiencing the listed side effects (i.e. Talk to your doctor or Pharmacist about a safer long term laxative. Constipation - self care. My general practitioner just told me to use Myralax (or a generic substitute) daily because I have had 2 episodes of diverticulitis. C I all most didn't live thur that.But i have been cheating death my whole life.I hope i can help someone here,I need that to make my self feel better. When I ate anything even a little I would be in distress. NHS (United Kingdom). A wonderful nurse suggested that we use Miralax in "hot" liquid (tea, coffee, hot chocolate, soup). The challenges of constipation can be better managed by understanding the condition. I drink a whole bottle once a month, because I DID abuse laxatives in my teen years. Miralax is pure POISON! This has 100% solved my problems! Ex.. mineral oil is great for occasional use. Did you read what is normal for a person? doi:10.20524/aog.2016.0005. I DON'T CARE WHAT PROBLEM YOU'RE GOING THROUGH YOU CAN FIND THE RIGHT FOODS TO HELP YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM DAILY THAT'S ALSO WITH ANY OTHER DISEASE OR ILLNESSES DIET HAS A LOT TO DO WITH IT! Make a list of all the laxatives you take, and how often you take them. As with recovery from other addictions, reversing laxative abuse can be a frustrating, and seemingly uphill battle. Blessings. The first thing that generally happens is that the usual dose will no longer work, and you will need to take … Why? So, thanks for taking the time to write your experience to help others who are in the same boat :). Now I go daily at least once a day a little or a lot is better then getting backed up? And he's been on Miralax ever since and it concerns me and causes some fear as to if it can stump his growth in some way or cause his body to become dependent on this treatment/drug. But if you take stimulant laxatives too often, you could become dependent on them to have a bowel movement at all… I too worry about taking it on an extended basis but after reading some of these comments feel better about doing so. This stimulation makes the intestinal muscles contract and move the stool out of the body. Researching for any studies relating to Miralax and loss of memory/mood change might be a good idea. But looking back on it, it was dairy causing it (try NO dairy for one month before ruling it out) from me eating it and breastfeeding and then she ate it once old enough. Make time to move your bowels. I came to this thread looking for reasons why I might not take my doctor's advice. It works great for her and was the only thing that works for her. Wonderful... he has had no more pooh problems. Ask a GP for advice if you get any particularly troublesome or persistent side effects while taking laxatives. I just can't seem to find a happy medium. Taking it twice a day seems to do the job. I had forgotten how much more easy life is because of this prescription. She’s been like this for 6 months and it came all of a sudden. I still did not like the dosage. The label of sodium phosphate laxatives states that they should be used as a single dose taken once a day, and the products should not be used for more than three days. Don't use miralax if you don't have to. I have no choice but to take a laxative for the long term as I have absolutely no motility without one. Diarrhea is more likely to happen if you take more than the recommended dosage. I haven't used Miralax in a few years. They are in contact with the FDA. @Roosky Could you be a little more informative about the nonwhey "Veggie" protein powders. My Dr. recommended that I take 4 fiber laxative pills daily with the Miralax to bulk up the stool. I have to fix veggies no one else eats because he LOVES them so it's not his diet. I tried to eat healthy, lots of whole grains(i.e. Does miralax cause trouble with the mind? I also take magnesium which gives me the runs. So sorry to hear about your dilemma. You must go extremely slow and be very careful. I've been on miralax for a year now and it has improved my life tremendously. Konsyl is psyllium fiber so it's safe to take every day and does not create dependence. The fiber laxative jar says gentle enough for everyday use and it is a natural action of fiber. ..AND THEN THEY'LL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS AREN'T THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE AND THE HEALTH OF THEIR CHILD IN THE FUTURE. I take two shakes a day and eat one simple healthy meal. So for someone who has chronic stomach issues.I have been taking miralax daily for a long time the only side effect is it makes me gain water weight .Due to the fact that it absorbs water into the colon.Which for easy bathroom time is worth it to me. I asked the doctor about the dosage that my son was on, and was told that Miralax is one of the safest drugs to take for chronic costipation over a long period of time. fiber), fruits, and veggies. Maybe his normal is less often. I've been to several GI docs, tested for celiac, 2 colonoscopies, nothing found other than a healthy GI, that won't work! I have advanced M.S., I haven't been outside since last Oct., everyday I have to take 16 different pills, 2-of them are opioids for pain, these are known to cause constipation! When your body has adjusted to the new dosing, cut your daily dose in half again. Our per told us to use miralax at a very small dose daily. Fluid and electrolyte imbalances may occur. My whole digestive system would get out of wack and take weeks to get back to abnormal. We still give him 1.5 tsp per day and he's three years old. I'll start to get numb on my left side of my body. It's the only thing that works. Just got the chronic constipation card dealt his way. My youngest don struggled with constipation at 3 months of age. Instead of using laxative pills, use magnesium citrate. If a doctor prescribes this to you and says it safe then go ahead and do it but listen to your body. SORRY I WAS IN MY SPEAK TO TEXT AND FOR SOME REASON IT GOT STUCK ON CAPS. He was breastfed only, but it didn't matter. If you're taking excess laxatives for any reason, including chronic constipation or in misguided efforts to purge, cleanse your body or lose weight, serious complications are … Next, begin to ween yourself off of laxatives by eliminating the harshest medications from your list. It's still so painful he cries and I have cried with him. I tried high fiber drinking lots of water, high fiber foods, etc. No dairy, too. I have tried about everything including years at the Gastroenterologist. It has work form me wonders. 2. I agree, it sure beats a bowel obstruction, however, you shouldn’t need the miralax!! The first choice she recommends is a senna-based stimulant laxative. I was told to drink a lot of water also. Unless your intestines aren't working (like mine isn't) and not Contracting on it's own, then by all means, you probably need to take something. Keep repeating the process until you need to take a laxative no more than once every two weeks. But I believe it's safer than the alternative . The choice of laxative … Many share the health issues their children/babies have had. There is a big difference in how they affect the bowel. I would go 1-2 MONTHS! No matter how much I try to regulate dosage nothing keeps the runs away. Miralax is completely safe. I have been prescribed MiraLax and been taking a couple doses a day. doc. Laxatives? U.S. National Library of Medicine. is the one who wanted me too take it 2 time per day,because 1 per day wasn't working.So i have to disagree with you.Sorry my spelling is bad,I'M relearning to spell,and everthing eles in life,due to 72 weeks of Peggasy and interferon treatment for Hep. Is he bedridden or other? I had been taking magnesium oxide which I learned was the most likely to cause diarrhea especially in the dosage I started out with. Such as brand or name? Long story short, 2 years later a new doc was treating me for similar issues and I told him about the previous doc's recommendation. Taking too many laxatives overtime may weaken the bowel muscles, further leading to constipation.