Before Taking Polyethylene Glycol 3350
- tell your doctor and pharmacist if you are allergic to polyethylene glycol or any other medications.
- tell your doctor and pharmacist what prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products you are taking.
- tell your doctor if you have or have ever had a bowel obstruction and if you have symptoms of bowel obstruction .
- tell your doctor if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding. If you become pregnant while taking polyethylene glycol 3350, call your doctor.
Causes Of Constipation In Kids
Your childs eating and potty habits might be causing their constipation. Some children are potty-shy because they either dont want to sit on the toilet or theyre afraid that it will hurt. Your child may hold in their bowel movements on purpose or not.
Avoiding or delaying going to the bathroom can lead to constipation in kids. Fussy eating habits can also change bathroom habits. If your child is eating lots of processed foods or not getting enough fiber from fruits and vegetables, they may have a more difficult time passing stools.
Not drinking enough water may also cause or worsen constipation. Eating or drinking too little also means your child will have to go to the bathroom less.
Let your pediatrician know if your child has constipation often. Health issues in kids can sometimes lead to difficult bowel movements. These include:
- anxiety
Is It Safe To Use Miralax Long
Over-the-counter MiraLAX and other laxatives are usually only recommended for short-term use, up to a week.
If your constipation lasts longer than a week, you should see your doctor. Your doctor may want to evaluate the cause of your constipation. Depending on the cause, your doctor may recommend long-term use of MiraLAX or other treatments.
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How To Give This Medicine To Your Child
Types Of Prep Solutions
There are two basic kinds of colonoscopy prep solutions. The first are called iso-osmotic preps. Their main ingredient is polyethylene glycol, aka PEG brand names include GoLYTELY and MiraLAX. These are by far the safest preps especially for people with kidney or heart disease because they mimic the body’s chemical composition and don’t disrupt fluid and electrolyte balances.
” have the same electrolytes as your own body, so is not a big shock to the system,” says Elena Ivanina, DO, a gastroenterologist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
The bad news? They’re the least palatable of the two kinds of prep solutions, says Dr. Ivanina. And you have to drink a lot .
The other type of preps are called hyperosmotic solutions. These may contain a variety of active ingredients and can cause potentially dangerous fluid shifts, which means that people with underlying kidney, heart or liver disease shouldn’t drink them. In fact, all colonoscopy patients must undergo a kidney function test before taking hyperosmotic preparations. Their main benefits, according to Dr. Ivanina? You don’t have to consume as much, and they can be very inexpensive.
Here are some of the more typical colonoscopy prep side effects:
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Dosage For Kids Toddlers And Infants
Before giving MiraLAX to your child, talk with your childs doctor. They can recommend the most appropriate dosage of MiraLAX for your child. The manufacturer of MiraLAX doesnt provide this information. They advise getting a doctors recommendation for childrens dosage.
Its also important to talk to your childs doctor because they may want to evaluate your child to determine the cause of constipation. Depending on the cause, other treatments may be needed.
Miralax Side Effects List For Healthcare Professionals
Allergy alert
Do not use if you are allergic to polyethylene glycol
Do not use if you have kidney disease, except under the advice and supervision of a doctor
Ask a doctor before use if you have
Ask a doctor of pharmacist before use if you are taking a prescription drug
When using this product you may have loose, watery, more frequent stools
Stop use and ask a doctor if
- you have rectal bleeding or you nausea, bloating or cramping or abdominal pain gets worse. These may be signs of a serious condition.
- you need to use a laxative for longer than 1 week
If pregnant or breastfeeding, ask a health professional before use.
Keep out of the reach of children. In case of overdose, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.
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What Is The Dosage Of Miralax For Children
There are have been a lot of discussions on administering Miralax to children. Most physicians recommend Miralax for kids older than 6 months old.
Miralax dosage for kids varies according to body weight, and purpose of use.
Occasional constipation:
- Children greater than 6 months of age: 0.5 to 1.5 g/kg daily
- Maximum dose: 17 g/day
- Children greater than 3 years of age: 1 to 1.5 g/kg daily for 3 days
- Maximum dose: 100 g daily
Bowel preparation:
- Children greater than 2 years of age: 1.5 g/kg/day
- Maximum dose: 100 g daily
What If I Take Too Much
Taking an extra dose of macrogol by accident is unlikely to harm you. You may get diarrhoea and stomach pain but this should ease within a day or two. If it does not, stop taking macrogol and wait for the diarrhoea and stomach pain to pass.
If you’re worried, talk to a doctor or pharmacist for advice.
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Common Problems You Can Self
You can treat several common problems related to thestomach and intestines. Heartburn and sour stomach can be treated withantacids, products such as Zantac 150 or Prevacid 24HR. However, youmust read each part of the label closely, as each product carries agelimits, safe time limits for self-use, warnings, precautions, dosinginformation, and conditions under which you should see a physician. Ifyou ignore any of these items, you risk serious harm in many ways, suchas by failure to get diagnosis and treatment for cancer.
You can also treat constipation with several differenttypes of laxatives. When choosing a laxative, choose safer products suchas docusate . Avoid mineral oil and castor oil,and be sure you do not overuse such stimulants as senna and bisacodyl,as they can lead to dependence. Check the age limits on each package anddo not give a product to a patient under the ages stated on the label.
You can self-treat diarrhea in patients aged 6 years andabove with loperamide or in those aged 12 years and abovewith bismuth subsalicylate . In each case, as always, makesure to read and follow the entire label.
When self-treating constipation or diarrhea, you must makesure that the conditions do not persist beyond a certain time , because they are no longer safe to treat without a physicianscare.
Gastrointestinal Warnings On Nonprescription Products
W. Steven Pray, PhD, DPhBernhardt Professor, Nonprescription Products and DevicesCollege of Pharmacy
Gabriel E. Pray, PharmD CandidateCollege of PharmacyWeatherford, Oklahoma
US Pharm
Nonprescription products carry a host of warnings andprecautions against use when a physician has not been involved in theirselection . Some of these warnings involvethe gastrointestinal tract. The warnings are critical for thepharmacist to understand and communicate to the patient during self-carecounseling sessions to help avoid patient harm from use ofcontraindicated nonprescription products and to ensure that patientsobtain appropriate medical care when necessary.
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How Long Does It Take For Miralax To Work
Constipation is a troublesome health issue that puts a person in serious discomfort and uneasiness.
Symptoms of severe constipation such as cramping and abdominal pain, bloating, gas, and trouble with bowel movements are quite unbearable for the sufferer.
Laxatives like Miralax and Metamucil are some of the best OTC medications for constipation.
A first-time user of Miralax is eager to know how long does it take for Miralax to work? The patient has a sense of urgency to get relief from constipation, so he looks forward to getting a fast result from Miralax.
Before we discuss how fast Miralax works, let us be familiar with a few basic facts on this popular laxative.
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How To Use Miralax
It is easy and comfortable to use MiraLax that comes in powder form with no taste and odor.
Take the recommended measure of this laxative in powder form using the cap of the bottle. Inside of the cap has lines indicating the amount of powder to be used per 1 dose.
Mix the powder into 4 to 8 ounces of hot or cold beverages like juice, coffee, tea, water, soda, or smoothies. Stir the mixture well and drink it right away.
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Some Side Effects Can Be Serious The Following Symptoms Are Uncommon But If You Experience Either Of Them Call Your Doctor Immediately:
- diarrhea
- hives
Polyethylene glycol 3350 may cause other side effects. Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
If you experience a serious side effect, you or your doctor may send a report to the Food and Drug Administration’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program online or by phone .
What Are The Side Effects Of Miralax
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives difficult breathing swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Stop taking this medicine and call your doctor at once if you have:
- severe or bloody diarrhea
- blood in your stools or
- severe and worsening stomach pain.
Common side effects may include:
- bloating, gas, upset stomach
- dizziness or
- increased sweating.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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Do You Have Abdominal Pain With Miralax From Fda Reports
Abdominal pain is found among people who take Miralax, especially for people who are female, 60+ old , have been taking the drug for < 1 month, also take medication Zofran, and have Pain. This study is created by eHealthMe based on reports of 47,387 people who have side effects when taking Miralax from FDA, and is updated regularly.
To Use The Powder Follow These Steps:
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Miralax For Colonoscopy Prep
Your doctor may recommend MiraLAX for colonoscopy bowel preparation. This is a procedure thats used to clear out the contents of your gastrointestinal tract before you have a colonoscopy. For this purpose, MiraLAX is sometimes used by itself or in combination with other laxatives.
If your doctor would like you to use MiraLAX for bowel prep, theyll recommend a specific way to use it. Be sure to follow your doctors instructions. To give you an idea of what they might be like, heres an example of bowel prep instructions:
- The day before your colonoscopy:
- Begin a clear liquid diet.
- At 12 pm , take two laxative tablets such as Dulcolax. Also at this time, mix 8.3 ounces of MiraLAX in 64 ounces of a liquid such as Gatorade. This mixture should be refrigerated.
- At 5:00 pm, drink an 8-ounce glass of the MiraLAX-Gatorade mixture. Do this every 15 minutes until youve consumed a total of four 8-ounce glasses of the mixture .
- The day of your colonoscopy:
- Five hours before the procedure, drink the remaining 32 ounces of the MiraLAX-Gatorade mixture.
- Two hours before the procedure, stop all eating and drinking.
Bowel prep procedures will cause diarrhea. Therefore, you should stay near a toilet as you conduct the procedure.
MiraLAX is classified as an osmotic laxative. This means that it works by drawing water into the colon. The water softens the stool and may naturally stimulate the colon to contract. These actions help ease bowel movements.
What Is The Best Fast
A Fleet Saline Enema can produce a bowel movement as quickly as one to five minute. A Dulcolax suppository can produce a bowel movement in 15-60 minutes. A saline laxative, such as magnesium citrate, can produce a bowel movement in a half hour to 6 hours. Depending on your preference and your level of discomfort, you can choose one of these, and it should work very quickly.
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Coverage And Cost Comparison Of Dulcolax Vs Miralax
Because they are over-the-counter, Dulcolax and Miralax are usually not covered by insurance or Medicare Part D. Some exceptions may apply, for example, a state Medicaid plan. Also, you may be able to use your health savings credit card to pay for these OTC medications.
The typical out-of-pocket price for a box of generic Dulcolax tablets is about $8, and a box of suppositories is also about $8. The out-of-pocket price for a bottle of generic Miralax is about $23.
You can save money on Dulcolax or Miralax with a SingleCare card.
| $10 |
What Other Information Should I Know
Keep all appointments with your doctor.
Do not let anyone else take your medication. Ask your pharmacist any questions you have about refilling your prescription.
It is important for you to keep a written list of all of the prescription and nonprescription medicines you are taking, as well as any products such as vitamins, minerals, or other dietary supplements. You should bring this list with you each time you visit a doctor or if you are admitted to a hospital. It is also important information to carry with you in case of emergencies.
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Warnings Of Dulcolax And Miralax
It is always a good idea to consult with a doctor of gastroenterology if you experience bowel problems, especially if they are frequent or chronic. The gastroenterologist can do a full workup and evaluation, to determine if you have any underlying conditions causing your constipation that need to be treated.
Warnings of Dulcolax:
- Ask your healthcare provider before using if you are experiencing stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or a sudden change in bowel habits lasting more than 14 days.
- Dulcolax may cause stomach discomfort, faintness, rectal burning, and mild cramping.
- Stop using Dulcolax and consult your healthcare provider if you have rectal bleeding or no bowel movement after using Dulcolax. This could indicate a more serious condition. Also, consult your healthcare provider if you have chronic constipation or need to use a laxative for more than seven days.
- Suppositories are for rectal use only.
- If you are taking the tablets, do not chew or crush. Do not take within one hour of antacids or milk.
Warnings of Miralax:
Warnings of both Dulcolax and Miralax:
- Consult your healthcare provider before using if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Keep out of reach of children.
- Prolonged use of laxatives can lead to electrolyte imbalance, which can be very dangerous. Consult your healthcare provider if your constipation continues for more than seven days.
Can Taking Miralax Everyday Be Harmful
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Keeping this in consideration, what are the long term side effects of MiraLAX?
MiraLAX side effects
- More common side effects. The more common side effects of MiraLAX include:
- Serious side effects. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects.
- Diarrhea. Diarrhea or loose stools are side effects of MiraLAX.
- Bloating.
- Headache.
- Long-term side effects.
Additionally, is long term use of MiraLAX harmful? MiraLax safe for chronic constipation. NEW YORK – MiraLax, which is currently available over-the-counter in the U.S, appears to remain safe and effective when use is extended for up to 6 months in patients with chronic constipation, researchers report in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.
Also know, is MiraLAX safe for everyday use?
Don’t use MiraLax more than once a day, and don’t use it for longer than one week unless your doctor recommends it. If MiraLax doesn’t relieve your constipation after seven days, talk to your doctor.
What is a safe laxative to use daily?
Bulk-forming laxatives.They work slowly and stimulate your colon naturally. They are considered the safest type of laxative and the only type that might be recommended for daily use. Examples are psyllium , polycarbophil , and methylcellulose .
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Frequently Asked Questions About Miralax
How long does it take for Miralax to take effect?
Most people will have a bowel movement 1 to 3 days after they take Miralax .
What does Miralax taste like?
Miralax is tasteless so feel free to add it to your favorite beverage without messing up the flavor. Some examples of drinks to mix it with include water, juice, soda, coffee, or tea. For people who have food restrictions, Miralax is also sugar-free, gluten-free, and preservative-free.
Why can’t I use Miralax if I have kidney problems?
Miralax can be used in people who have kidney problems, but you need to talk to your kidney provider first. Some laxatives can change your body’s salt and electrolyte levels, which your provider will want to monitor closely.
What’s better, Dulcolax or Miralax ?
Both medications are good OTC options for treating constipation. Bisacodyl works very quickly, which can be convenient for timing your bowel movement around your schedule. It also comes as a suppository if you’re having a hard time swallowing tablets or drinking a laxative mixture. Miralax takes a little bit longer to work, but it doesn’t have as many side effects like cramping or bathroom urgency. Click on the different “Alternative Drugs” below so you can decide which one is best for you!
Is Miralax the same as antifreeze?