Important Information About Miralax
You should not use MiraLAX if you have a bowel obstruction or intestinal blockage. If you have any of these conditions, you could have dangerous or life-threatening side effects from MiraLAX.
People with eating disorders should not use MiraLAX without the advice of a doctor.
Before taking MiraLAX, tell your doctor if you are allergic to any drugs, or if you have ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, kidney disease, nausea or vomiting with severe stomach pain, or if you have had a sudden change in bowel habits that has lasted 2 weeks or longer.
MiraLAX should produce a bowel movement within 1 to 3 days of using the medication. Polyethylene glycol 3350 normally causes loose or even watery stools.
Do not use MiraLAX more than once per day. Call your doctor if you are still constipated or irregular after using this medication for 7 days in a row.
How Should I Take Miralax
Use MiraLAX exactly as directed on the label, or as it has been prescribed by your doctor. Do not use this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
To use MiraLAX powder, measure your dose with the medicine cap on the bottle. This cap should contain dose marks on the inside of it. Pour the powder into 4 to 8 ounces of a cold or hot beverage such as water, juice, soda, coffee, or tea. Stir this mixture and drink it right away. Do not save for later use.
MiraLAX should produce a bowel movement within 1 to 3 days of using the medication. Polyethylene glycol 3350 normally causes loose or even watery stools.
Do not use MiraLAX more than once per day. Call your doctor if you are still constipated or irregular after using this medication for 7 days in a row.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Important Bowel Preparation Reminders
The success of the colonoscopy exam is dependent on your colon being empty of fecal matter. The end result should be clear or pale, typically yellow liquid. Please complete the bowel preparation as instructed.
Contact the doctors office at if you experience any difficulties or have concerns with the bowel preparation. An on-call gastroenterologist is available during non-office hours.
Remain hydrated throughout your bowel preparation. You may drink clear fluids throughout the entire preparation up until three hours prior to your scheduled appointment. Please do not drink red, orange or purple products, dairy products or creamers.
The hardest part is over! After you arrive for your colonoscopy, youll meet with a nurse who will talk to you about your medical history, start an IV so you can get fluids and get you settled. After you meet with your doctor, youll be given medication to sedate you and keep you comfortable during your colonoscopy. You will recover after your procedure for about 30 minutes and will be given a written report with instructions to take home.
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What Is A Colonoscopy
A colonoscopy involves inserting a thin, flexible tube called a colonoscope into the body through the anus to examine the colon and rectum. The main purpose of a colonoscopy is to investigate symptoms which may be coming from the colon and colorectal area, such as:
- Abdominal pain
- Passing blood with bowel movements.
- Persistent diarrhoea
During a colonoscopy it is possible to identify growths and other intestinal problems including:
- Non-cancerous polyps
- Bleeding
- Areas of inflammation
It is necessary for the whole colon to be visible to the video camera on the end of the colonoscope, otherwise it is impossible to carry out this screening process effectively. If you are concerned about the health of yourself or a loved one, download the Ada app for a free assessment.
People are recommended to follow particular instructions in preparation for a colonoscopy, including following a specialized colonoscopy prep diet and activity plan. The purpose of this is to induce a kind of diarrhea, emptying the area to be screened of stool and other waste to ensure full visibility. This process is known as colonoscopy prep.
When Should You Take Miralax For Constipation
MiraLAX is an osmotic laxative that is minimally absorbed from your intestine. It is safe, effective, and generally well tolerated.
Use Miralax of constipation only after a trial of:
- Increasing your daily fluid intake.
- Increasing your dietary fiber intake.
- Taking a bulk-forming fiber laxative such as Psyllium .
- Taking the fiber-rich Prunes or prune juice. Prunes are found to be the same or more effective than Metamucil in some trials.
- If the above measures fail to provide you with relief from severe constipation, then MiraLAX will be a reasonable choice.
However, you shouldnt take Miralax for severe constipation if:
- You are not responding to a daily dose of 34 gm of MiraLAX for more than 4 days.
- You suspect fecal impaction. Learn More.
- You have intolerable side effects such as upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting.
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What To Expect After A Colonoscopy
- You must arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home. Going home in a taxi is not allowed.
- The effects of the anesthesia can persist for 24 hours. After receiving the sedation, you must exercise extreme caution before engaging in any activity that could be harmful to yourself or others . Do not make any important decisions and do not drink any alcoholic beverages during this time period.
- Take only the medication that is prescribed by your doctor.
- After your procedure, you may have anything youd like to eat or drink. You will probably want to start with something light. Please include plenty of fluids. Avoid items that cause gas, such as sodas and salads.
- If your procedure required the placement of a metal clip, you cannot have an MRI for 30 days.
Ask About Your Medications
You may need to stop taking some of your medications before your procedure. Talk with your doctor about which medications are safe for you to stop taking. We have included some common examples below.
Anticoagulants
If you take a blood thinner, such as to treat blood clots or to prevent a heart attack or stroke, ask the doctor who prescribes it for you when to stop taking it. Examples are listed in the Common anticoagulants table. There are others, so check with your doctor if youre not sure.
| Common anticoagulants |
|---|
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Medications for diabetes
If you take insulin or other medications for diabetes, you may need to change the dose. Ask the doctor who prescribes your diabetes medication what you should do the day before and the morning of your procedure. Tell your doctor you will be drinking a sugar-free clear liquid diet the day before your procedure.
If you take metformin or a medication that contains metformin , dont take it the day before or the day of your procedure.
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Miralax And Dulcolax Bowel Prep For Colonoscopy
Eric Ibegbu, MD Contents Services Colon Cancer Screening Prep for Colonoscopy
A Miralax and Dulcolax bowel prep is done to clear the bowel of all solid matter. Its purpose is to prepare the bowel for surgery or a procedure. Please follow these instructions. Begin the bowel prep one day before your scheduled procedure.
To prepare
- Tell our doctors or any member of our clinical staff if you have diabetes or if you are taking blood thinners. You may need to stop some of your medicine a few days before your test.
- You may take your medicines, other than diabetes medicines and blood thinners the morning of your test. You may do so with sips of water only.
- Five days before your test: Do not take aspirin products or iron tablets.
- You will need these items from a pharmacy: Miralax in large bottle 4 Dulcolax or Bisacodyl tablets . There may be store brands of these products that cost less. Ask the pharmacist to help you find what you need.
- Buy a large 64-ounce bottle of sports drink such as Gatorade. If you have diabetes, buy a no or low calorie drink such as Crystal Light instead. This will be used to mix with your Miralax the day before your test. Do not use carbonated beverages.
- Arrange to have an adult bring you to your appointment and take you home after your test.
On the day before your test
1. Drink only clear liquids. Avoid all red or purple colored liquids. Do not eat any solid food or milk products until your test is done.
Clear liquids are:
The morning of the colonoscopy
What Are The Other Alternatives For Severe Constipation
To relieve severe constipation, you have to stick to the standard diet and lifestyle modifications. This will help to improve your bowel movements without the need to increase your laxative doses or using a more powerful alternative.
Before your search for more powerful alternatives for severe constipation, you should:
- Take more fibers from your diet.
- Take a fiber supplement.
- Review your list of medications.
Stronger alternatives to discuss with your doctor for severe constipation:
- A combination of low dose MiraLAX . .
- Using suppositories such as Glycerin.
- Using an enema for severe constipation. Learn more.
- Working with your doctor to use the newer anti-constipation medications such as Lubiprostone and Prucalopride.
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Miralax Colon Cleanse And Colonoscopy
Through the process of the colon, cleanse, or colon hydrotherapy toxins are flushed out of the colon.
Colon cleanse procedure not only keeps the body clean but also promotes good health, wellness, and weight loss.
Thorough cleansing of the bowel or colon is essential for a successful colonoscopy. Doctors examining your colon can get a better view of the digestive tract after the cleansing of the colon.
Using laxatives like Miralax or using other stool softeners is usually administered for colon cleansing.
Using MiraLax for Colon Cleanse
Detoxification of the colon removes wastes, toxins, and debris deposited on the colon walls.
The Mayo Clinic recommends taking a laxative to get rid of constipation and cleansing of the colon.
Miralax can help loosen fecal matter and promote smooth and frequent bowel movements to relieve constipation. It is an effective short-term remedy that can be used as a colon detox.
It is easy to use Miralax for colon cleanse. You can take this oral laxative in the right dosage as recommended by your doctor.
Usually, 7 days of colon cleansing process is recommended before the colonoscopy.
Take the recommended dosage of Miralax and add it to 8 ounces of liquid. Choose a beverage to use with Miralax such as fruit juice, vegetable juice, coffee, tea, warm water, smoothies, or soda.
You can take the recommended measure of Miralax using the cap of the bottle pre-measured line indicating different dosages.
How To Choose A Laxative
Laxatives are available in form of tablets, capsules, oils, powders or teas. Whatever product or type you choose, take it only as directed by your healthcare practitioner.
If you are taking pills or powder, take it with a tall glass of water. You can take the pill orally with or without food. Night time is best so that you have a bowel movement the next morning. The downside to taking laxatives at night is that you could wake up from cramps or having to go at night.
While taking powders mix the required quantity with a glass of water. In any case, no matter what type of laxative you use, it is advisable to drink tons of water to prevent electrolyte and fluid imbalance. Castor oil and mineral oil work quite quickly in 5-6 hours you will have a bowel movement. Avoid taking castor oil at bedtime. Never take laxatives after taking antacids or milk.
Choose a laxative based on the goals you wish to achieve.
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How Long Will It Take For The Preparation To Start Working
Everyone is different. Some people begin having their bowels move within one hour of drinking all of their preparation. Some people are very sensitive to laxatives and will have accidents. This is especially true for patients who have had accidents in the past with routine “GI bugs”. Other patients may not have their bowels move for four hours. These patients usually require a little extra laxative preparation in order to get their colon clean.
Days Before Your Colonoscopy
- Purchase the prep ingredients:
- Gatorade: 2 quarts . No red, orange or purple flavors. Low-calorie G2 is OK.
- Miralax: one 8.3-ounce bottle. Generic brand is OK.
- Dulcolax® : two 5-mg laxative tablets.
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Is Miralax Safe For Use After Surgery
MiraLAX is sometimes used after surgery to prevent and treat constipation. However, if youve had surgery and are having constipation, talk with your doctor. Your doctor may want to evaluate the cause of your symptoms. Depending on the cause, your doctor may recommend MiraLAX or other treatments.
Taking too much MiraLAX can increase your risk of side effects.
Uses That Are Not Recommended
Not all potential uses for MiraLAX are recommended.
MiraLAX for weight loss
Some people take laxatives, including MiraLAX, with the hope of losing weight. However, MiraLAX and other laxatives are not effective for weight loss. In addition, they may cause harmful side effects if theyre used inappropriately. These can include diarrhea, dehydration, and electrolyte imbalances.
If you would like to lose weight, dont use MiraLAX for that purpose. Instead, talk to your doctor about weight-loss approaches that can work well for you.
Take MiraLAX according to the instructions on the package or according to the directions youve received from your doctor.
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Daily Bowel Management To Achieve One Very Soft Bm Every Day For 6
We suggest giving 1 capful of Miralax mixed in 8 ounces of a good tasting clear liquid daily. If one capful does not result in your child having a very soft BM per day then increase the amount of Miralax given:
- 1 ¼ capful are mixed in 10 ounces of clear liquid
- 1 ½ capful are mixed in 12 ounces of clear liquid
- 1 ¾ capful are mixed in 14 ounces of clear liquid
- 2 capfuls are mixed in 16 ounces of clear liquid.
- If one capful of Miralax results in diarrhea, reduce the amount of Miralax given:
- ¾ capful is mixed in 6 ounces of clear liquid
- ½ capful is mixed in 4 ounces of clear liquid
Reduce the amount of cows milk dairy products that your child is consuming every day to 8-12 ounces per day. Alternative milks and milk products, such as soy/rice/almond, can be consumed in unlimited amounts.
Increase the daily fiber in your childs diet to 25-30 grams per day. Review the high fiber food list below. You may also consider using Fiber Gummies or Benefiber, with each product listing how many grams of fiber are available in each serving.
You must also increase the amount of clear liquid that your child is drinking every day to a minimum of 32 ounces per day.
Encourage your child to get at least one hour or aerobic activity per day.
Have your child practice a regular daily toilet schedule by sitting on the toilet for 3-5 minutes after most meals.
Miralax Weight Loss: The Harmful Dangerous Effects
Laxatives of many kinds are available on the shelves of drug stores, grocery stores, and convenience stores. They are an easy to obtain item that people turn to for a wide variety of reasons. Some people need the assistance of a laxative product to alleviate occasional constipation due to medical treatments, age-related functional change, or as a side effect of pain-relieving medication. Although laxatives are beneficial when used appropriately, not all who turn to laxative products do so for medically necessary reasons. A growing number of people who struggle with symptoms related to disordered eating reach for laxative products like Miralax as a way to maintain control over food intake, calories, and weight. Laxatives are also used frequently by individuals who are required to maintain a specific weight, such as athletes or models. When used in a way that is inconsistent with labeling, the use of laxative products can lead to harmful, even dangerous effects, including addiction.
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High Fiber Nutrition Therapy
Fiber and fluid may relieve constipation in children. Fiber is not digested in the body. Instead, when it is in the colon, it absorbs water and helps form a soft stool, which is more easily passed. The child with constipation will likely improve when adequate amounts of fiber are in the diet.
The whole family will benefit from having more fiber in the diet, and when everybody changes their eating habits together, it is more likely that your child also will eat these new foods.
What Are The Best Natural Alternatives To Miralax For Adults
Of the list of natural alternatives to miralax above, these are the best alternatives for adults. They work quickly and safely to produce a bowel movement.
- Enema
- Natural Calm
- Epsom salt or salt water flush
These will produce the quickest bowel movement when you are in need of fast relief from constipation. However, to fix the problem long-term, probiotics, fermented foods, diatomaceous earth taken daily are my ultimate favorites.
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Start Your Bowel Preparation
Step 1: At 4:00 pm on the day before your procedure, take 2 bisacodyl tablets by mouth with a glass of water.
Step 2: At 4:15 pm, start drinking the MiraLAX mixture.
You will drink 4 glasses of the mixture in total.
- When youre finished, half of the MiraLAX mixture will be left. Save the rest of it in the refrigerator for the second half of your preparation.
- Bowel movements usually begin within 1 hour of drinking the first dose, but it may take longer for some people.
- Dont worry if you dont start having bowel movements after drinking the first half of the MiraLAX. Continue to drink liquids and start the second half of the MiraLAX as instructed.
Step 3 :
If you were told to arrive for your procedure before 11:00 am, follow these instructions the night before your procedure:
At 11:00 pm, take 2 bisacodyl tablets by mouth with a glass of water. Then, start drinking the second half of the MiraLAX mixture.