Occasionally, there will be some abnormal phenomena in life. It is inevitable, and you can solve them through some common sense of life. It is also necessary to make sure that your daily food is rich in dietary fiber and supplement enough water. Your daily exercise is also uninterrupted. However, when your gastrointestinal motility is not enough to help you excrete, constipation will occur. Here is the article- How Long Does It Take for MiraLAX to Work?
You can start with the safest and easiest method—for example, drugs like laxatives. If laxatives do not help you with bowel movements, you need to see a doctor for help and get additional advice. Because humans cannot always rely on laxatives to help defecate. However, if you feel that all the methods do not work, MiraLAX is still a wise choice at this time.
What is MiraLAX?
MiraLAX is an over-the-counter (OTC) drug. It is classified as an osmotic laxative. MiraLAX is used to treat symptoms such as constipation. It is usually used for short-term treatment. However, under certain circumstances, it can be used to treat chronic constipation (long-term constipation). Also, MiraLAX sometimes is used for colonoscopy intestinal examination preparation. Usually, most people start to defecate within one to three days after taking MiraLAX.
Here, there is a study on the efficacy of this over-the-counter drug. Its target population is people who defecate less than twice a week. After taking Mira LAX, the number of bowel movements in this group increased to 4.5 times a week. The other group of people taking a placebo was 2.7 times a week. Times. Also, a study showed that MiraLAX successfully treated 52% of patients with chronic constipation. MiraLAX is an odorless powdered medicine mixed with 4 to 8 ounces of water, juice, or other liquids. The powder is separately packed in bottles or packaging bags.
The ingredient of MiraLAX is Polyethylene Glycol 3350 (PEG3350). Young people aged 17 and above are admitted to using this over-the-counter drug. It can also be used to treat young children, including constipation symptoms in children under 2-years-old. Secondly, according to the North American Children’s Gastroenterology Association study, MiraLAX is used as an effective drug for the treatment and prevention of constipation in children. Moreover, this drug must be administered to young children as directed by a doctor to prevent accidents.
When something happens that causes you to miss the time to take the dose, what you need to do is not to stop and continue taking the drug. If the time for your next medication is approaching, you only need to take one dose this time. Do not try to take the previously untaken doses together. Because MiraLAX is suitable for the short-term treatment of constipation. If you have been constipated for too long or have chronic constipation symptoms, you should go to the hospital for evaluation by a doctor. After the evaluation, the doctor will find the best treatment plan for you, including long-term treatment of MiraLAX.
How MiraLAX Works
MiraLAX is an osmotic laxative. It will soften the colon’s stool by sucking water into the colon, thereby stimulating colon contraction and helping colon peristalsis. In this way, the feces accumulated in the colon will be smoothly discharged.
However, if you have the following symptoms, such as anorexia, bulimia, intestinal obstruction, or intestinal obstruction, you should use it as appropriate after consulting your doctor. Otherwise, you are likely to have side effects during use.
Before Taking MiraLAX
When you have any questions about your health, you need to inform your doctor in advance. For example:
- History of allergies to drugs
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Ulcerative colitis
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Have severe stomach pain
- Kidney disease
- Sudden changes in bowel habits, which have lasted for at least two weeks
- Has or is expected to become pregnant, and it is not clear whether MiraLAX is harmful to the unborn baby
- When you need Murray to feed a baby because it is not clear whether MiraLAX passes into breast milk or is harmful to a nursing baby
Some information about taking MiraLAX during pregnancy, let’s take a look
When taking MiraLAX during pregnancy, because polyethylene glycol 3350 will harm an unborn baby, you need to ask your doctor before taking it and indicate whether you will breastfeed your baby. It is evidence to prove whether polyethylene glycol 3350 enters breast milk and harms babies through breast milk. Therefore, unless there needed and the doctor gives medical advice, it is not recommended that pregnant women consume MiraLAX to help them relax. The same is true for women in childcare.
So, when you use MiraLAX, how soon will you be able to relax? The answer is that within one to three days after using the drug, the effective time varies depending on the degree of absorption of each person.
You may also need to ask your doctor before taking this MiraLAX about what you need to pay attention to while taking such medicines, such as food, drinks, and other relevant medicines. Avoid putting an unnecessary burden on your body during the period of taking the MiraLAX.
Taking MiraLAX
After your doctor prescribes the medicine for you, all you need to do is take it strictly according to the dosage and instructions on the label or the doctor’s advice. Although MiraLAX can be purchased for free in pharmacies without a prescription. But you can still get advice and precautions from your healthcare provider. It is because you may unknowingly increase or decrease the dose when you take MiraLAX, which makes your medicines less effective.
When you turn on MiraLAX, its dose is marked on the inside of the medicine cap, and you need to pour the powder until it is parallel to the dose mark. Then you need to pour the powder into 4 to 8 ounces of cold or hot drinks, such as water, coffee, juice, soda, or carbonated drinks. Drink it immediately after mixing, so you don’t need too much liquid to prevent you from drinking it all at once.
Do not overdose on MiraLAX every day. After taking the current dose, you still feel that the symptoms of constipation are not relieved. At this time, what you need to do is to contact the doctor immediately, explain the symptoms and the medications and dosages used, and get advice and medications. This method can help you further relieve your constipation symptoms. Under normal circumstances, MiraLAX needs to be stored at room temperature, away from heat and moisture. Furthermore, your medicine needs to be placed in a high place out of the reach of children.
MiraLAX Side Effect
Inevitably, MiraLAX also has side effects. The side effects are also divided into common and major ones. When you take MiraLAX, it may cause mild or more serious side effects. Some of the common side effects include but not all include:
- Allergic reaction
- Diarrhea
- Sparse stool
- Flatulence (intestines and stomach)
- Nausea
- Stomach-ache
- Bloating
These more common side effects may gradually improve within a few days or weeks after you take medicine. However, if you find that these phenomena have not improved and the situation has worsened, you need to immediately seek the help and advice of a doctor or pharmacist. Then immediately stop taking this medicine.
However, there are still warnings about the risk of serious side effects. When you have the following symptoms after taking MiraLAX, you need to contact your doctor and immediately explain your current situation. When serious side effects endanger your life, please call 911 immediately. Serious side effects are divided into the following symptoms:
The first symptoms are dehydration. This is because diarrhea caused by MiraLAX may impassioned the loss of fluid in the body, leading to the symptoms of dehydration. Among them, the elderly will have higher symptoms of diarrhea and dehydration when using this drug. Dehydration symptoms may include thirst, fatigue, dizziness, confusion, dry mouth, irritability, etc. However, dehydration symptoms in children are only howling cry but no tears and the diaper does not need to be changed within a few hours.
The second is allergic reactions. The symptoms of allergies caused by taking MiraLAX are not common, but some people still have stress reactions such as allergies to the drug. These allergic reactions should include skin rash, itchy skin, runny nose, difficulty breathing, swelling of lips, tongue, throat, etc.
The third is diarrhea. Diarrhea and loose stools are the most common side effects of taking MiraLAX. When you take more than the standard dose of drugs, it will increase your chances of diarrhea. Among them, the elderly are more disciplined. In some surveys, about 11% of people will experience diarrhea symptoms after taking such drugs. In the survey, about 13% of the elderly also have such a phenomenon. For these people with diarrhea, they may need to reduce their dosage.
The fourth is abdominal distension. Some people will experience abdominal distension after taking MiraLAX, and this group accounts for about 3%. But if they continue to take such drugs, this side effect will be eliminated or reduced.
Also, nausea is one of the more serious side effects of MiraLAX. According to the survey, about 6% of people here will have nausea after taking medicine, but the symptoms are eliminated or relieved when they continue taking medicine. However, there is no substantial evidence that taking MiraLAX can cause weight gain and headaches.
MiraLAX’s long-term side effects and short-term side effects are very similar. Through 12 continuous studies and investigations, it is found that the symptoms are diarrhea or loose stools, flatulence, nausea, abdominal pain, and bloating. However, these symptoms will occur within the first few weeks of taking MiraLAX, but the symptoms will be relieved or stopped over time.
Except for some side effects that can occur in adults. When children use such drugs, it may also happen to children. Here, some departments have reported to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the abnormalities and side effects of certain children after taking the drug. These include being more likely to feel angry, movements that are aggressive and aggressive, mood swings, and tremors. Through investigation and research, the FDA found that MiraLAX may contain a small number of chemicals, such as ethylene glycol.
These side effects may occur when children consume large amounts of ethylene glycol. However, a study funded by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that children who had taken MiraLAX had higher blood chemical substances levels than children who had never taken MiraLAX. Although these side effects have not been verified in clinical trials of MiraLAX in children, it is not known whether MiraLAX causes these symptoms. But the FDA is supporting other studies and investigations to confirm this phenomenon.
Even if this concern still exists, researchers from the North American Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Liver Diseases, and Nutrition still design MiraLAX as a drug to help children treat short- and long-term constipation. If you have concerns about this when choosing medicines for your child, please consult your doctor or pharmacist carefully before making the purchase.
MiraLAX Drug Interactions
The drug interactions can be divided into primary, moderate, secondary, and unknown effects. This means that you should try to avoid taking all medicines at the same time. This will help you reduce a lot of unnecessary risks. Simultaneously, taking medication in moderation means that you can only use the combination medication through the doctor’s order. Usually, the combination of drugs recommended by doctors has a slightly smaller risk. Here, the unknown effect means that even if the drug interacts, there are no obvious symptoms.
Although the classification is only a general rule, there are many variables in reality, so it isn’t easy to associate certain drugs with some individuals. In some cases of MiraLAX, there are usually 233 drugs that interact with drugs containing polyethylene glycol 3350. This is not shown in the list. Among them, 232 drug interactions are moderate, and the remaining one is secondary. The drugs that can usually be used with MiraLAX include Tylenol (acetaminophen), aspirin, ibuprofen, multivitamins, etc.
MiraLAX in Comparison
Here, we will compare MiraLAX with several drugs with the same effect to facilitate your choice.
- MiraLAX vs. Lactulose
Both MiraLAX and lactulose are osmotic laxatives. Their principle is to absorb water to enter the colon, soften the stool and stimulate the colon to contract and move, thereby expelling the stool. MiraLAX is an over-the-counter drug that can be purchased directly at a pharmacy, while lactulose requires a doctor’s prescription before it can be purchased. MiraLAX and lactulose’s difference is that MiraLAX can be used to treat constipation and be used as an auxiliary drug for bowel preparation before colonoscopy. Lactulose is used for the treatment of short-term constipation and long-term chronic constipation. On the other hand, lactulose can also be used to treat people with severe liver disease.
Lactulose can be taken orally directly or mixed with water and drinks. The side effects are very similar to MiraLAX. Including diarrhea, flatulence, nausea, etc. These side effects are more common while taking lactulose. Among them, due to diarrhea, lactulose may also cause electrolyte imbalance. When you reduce the dosage of lactulose, these side effects will gradually decrease.
- MiraLAX vs. Metamucil
MiraLAX and Metamucil are both laxatives, and they work in different ways. MiraLAX is an osmotic laxative, which draws water into the colon, helps soften the stool, and naturally stimulates the colon’s contraction. This effect can effectively alleviate colonic peristalsis. Metamucil is a fiber supplement of plantain, which is a bulk laxative. Like osmotic laxatives, Metamucil also draws water into the colon to help soften the stool. Its fiber content will also gather the feces together, thereby stimulating the colon’s peristalsis and helping the excretion of feces.
MiraLAX is used for long-term or short-term treatment of constipation, but it can also be used as a medicine to help clear the intestines before colonoscopy. Metamucil is mainly used to prevent constipation. But it can also be used for short-term treatment of constipation and long-term treatment of chronic constipation. Metamucil can help treat diarrhea, bowel emergency syndrome, high cholesterol, and other symptoms. MiraLAX and Metamucil also have very similar common side effects. These include:
- Diarrhea
- Stomach-ache
- Bloating
- Flatulence
- Nausea
But compared with MiraLAX, Metamucil can cause more severe abdominal distension in some people who take the drug. If there is not enough fluid, directly taking Metamucil may cause suffocation. So, make sure to take Metamucil with at least 8 ounces of liquid. Please note that if you have problems with swallowing, please do not take Metamucil.
- MiraLAX vs. Bisacodyl
MiraLAX is taken after being diluted with oral powder and a certain amount of drink, while Bisacodyl can be taken in two ways. One is oral sustained-release tablets, which can be swallowed directly by drinking water. The other is in the form of rectal suppositories. The suppositories are pushed into the rectum and absorbed into the body.
Regarding the side effects, we introduced the side effects of MiraLAX in detail earlier. The same Bisacodyl has some side effects, including:
- Nausea
- Abdominal discomfort
- Have grip
- Cramp
- Syncope
- Diarrhea
- Gastrointestinal irritation
When directly using rectal suppositories, it may cause irritation and burning of the rectal mucosa or cause mild proctitis.
Regarding whether these two drugs can be used during pregnancy. MiraLAX does not eliminate medication risk, so women during pregnancy are not recommended to use this medication. Bisacodyl has no risk to humans, so pregnant women can also use this drug.
The Advantage of MiraLAX
When you are constipated, the undischarged stool moves slowly in the colon. This process will cause excess water to be removed, making the stool dry, hard, and difficult to pass from the intestine. At this time, you need to choose a suitable laxative to help you pass stool. However, not all laxatives are the same as MiraLAX, which help you pass stool more gently. For example, medicines such as Senokot, Ex-Lax, or Dulcolax are irritating laxatives. Their role is to strongly stimulate the colon’s nerves, causing them to move violently and excrete feces in the intestine.
Besides, MiraLAX can act in synergy with the water to moisturize and soften feces and use a gentler way to dredge naturally. These three steps have no side effects at present. In addition to MiraLAX can effectively treat constipation. It can also help clean the digestive tract and colon before the patient undergoes surgery. Its other function is to encourage the colon to have regular bowel movements healthily.
Compared with other laxatives such as Metamucil or Bisacodyl. MiraLAX is said to be more effective. The reason is that because it is an osmotic laxative, MiraLAX absorbs excess water into the colon, softens the stool, and triggers intestinal peristalsis. This important process makes the effect of medicine more outstanding, and it also reduces the pain of defecation patients.
Things to Consider
There are many kinds of laxatives on the market for treating constipation. These different types of laxatives work in different ways, and the effect varies from person to person. Therefore, you need to choose drugs based on your physical condition and current symptoms. This can effectively prevent overly aggressive drugs from harming your health.
Moreover, some ingredients or brands of laxatives have more stringent conditions and restrictions than others. When you take too much, it is likely to cause excessive diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and other serious side effects. Here, most people don’t know that an overdose of certain laxatives can cause kidney damage or even death. Therefore, when you take a certain over-the-counter medicine for constipation, you need to read the instructions in detail and treat them strictly following the predetermined amount shown on the instructions.
Therefore, when you are constipated, MiraLAX can effectively relieve your current symptoms after taking one to three days. Simultaneously, you also need to use MiraLAX according to your situation and follow the instructions to prevent excessive side effects.
