How much miralax can i take

If your constipation is not relieved in two more days, increase Miralax to three times per day, and increase Senokot—S to 2 tablets three times per day. Once constipation is relieved, take 2 tablets of Senokot-S twice per day and Miralax twice per day. When should I contact my surgeon? You start having persistent nausea, are unable to drink fluids, or continuous vomiting.

You have a fever or abdominal pain with the constipation. You have questions or concerns about your condition or care. Skip to content How much can you take Miralax for severe constipation? Evidence-based Written By A Doctor. Increasing the dose of MiraLAX without the permission of your doctor can lead to side effects such as: Nausea, and even vomiting. Abdominal cramps.

Upset stomach. The use of oral MiraLAX in fecal impaction is usually not suitable. Learn More about fecal impaction. Can you take MiraLAX more than once 2 or 3 times a day? What is the maximum dose of MiraLAX per day? 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 Metamucil. Taking the fiber-rich Prunes or prune juice. Prunes are found to be the same or more effective than Metamucil in some trials.

You suspect fecal impaction. Learn More. You have intolerable side effects such as upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting.

For how long should you take MiraLAX for constipation? Interesting: How long does MiraLax stay in your systems? MD, Associate Lecturer of Gastroenterology and hepatology. Both MiraLAX and lactulose are osmotic laxatives.

They work by drawing water into the colon, which softens the stool and can naturally cause the colon to contract.

Lactulose is used for short-term treatment of constipation and long-term treatment of chronic constipation. Lactulose is also used for people with severe liver disease who have a condition called hepatic encephalopathy. Lactulose comes as an oral solution and as a powder that you mix with water and drink. You take either form once daily. These side effects may be more common with lactulose.

Lactulose may also be more likely to cause electrolyte imbalances as a result of diarrhea. Decreasing the dosage of lactulose may reduce these side effects. MiraLAX and lactulose are both effective for treating constipation. Both usually take one to three days to cause a bowel movement.

Guidelines from the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons recommend osmotic laxatives such as these products for treating constipation, including chronic constipation, in adults.

An analysis of studies in children with constipation found that MiraLAX may be more effective than lactulose for increasing bowel movements. Guidelines for treating constipation in children recommend MiraLAX as a first-choice option for short- and long-term treatment of constipation.

Lactulose is considered a second-choice option. That means they draw water into the colon, which softens the stool and may naturally stimulate the colon to contract.

In addition, GoLytely contains the electrolytes potassium and sodium. MiraLAX is an over-the-counter, brand-name product. GoLytely requires a prescription from your doctor. You mix the powder with four to eight ounces of liquid and drink it once daily when used for constipation.

When used for bowel prep, larger doses are taken over a period of two days. GoLytely comes as a powder in a large 4-liter jug. You need to add water to the jug, and then drink the solution as part of a bowel preparation procedure. Using MiraLAX and GoLytely for bowel prep before colonoscopy or other procedures can cause similar common side effects, such as:. Although uncommon, some serious side effects have happened in people using GoLytely bowel preparation, such as:. If you have certain health problems, your doctor may do special tests before prescribing GoLytely.

Or, they may recommend other products. These health problems include:. Citrucel is a methylcellulose fiber supplement that works as a bulk-forming laxative. Like osmotic laxatives, Citrucel draws water into the colon and makes the stool softer. Citrucel is primarily used for preventing constipation. Citrucel is available as a bulk powder and in caplets coated oval tablets.

You mix the powder with eight ounces of liquid and drink it one to three times daily. You take the caplet one to six times daily. Taking Citrucel without adequate liquid can cause choking.

Be sure to take Citrucel with at least eight ounces of liquid. MiraLAX and Citrucel are both effective for constipation. Both products usually take one to three days to cause a bowel movement. Guidelines from the American College of Gastroenterology and the American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons recommend increasing dietary fiber or using fiber supplements such as Citrucel as a first-choice option to prevent and treat constipation, including chronic constipation.

The guidelines also recommend osmotic laxatives such as MiraLAX for treating constipation, including chronic constipation. PediaLax magnesium hydroxide reduces acid levels in the stomach.

It also works like an osmotic laxative. It draws water into the colon, which softens the stool and can naturally stimulate the colon to contract. These effects help produce a bowel movement. This comparison addresses only the chewable tablet form of PediaLax.

MiraLAX is approved for over-the-counter use in adults and children aged 17 years and older. When recommended or prescribed by a doctor, it may also be used in younger children with ages ranging from under 2 years to 16 years. PediaLax is used for short-term treatment of constipation. If your child has kidney problems, they should not use PediaLax. This product can cause high magnesium levels in the body, which can cause dangerous side effects such as:. Products that contain magnesium hydroxide, such as PediaLax, are recommended as second-choice options.

Another difference between the two products is how long they take to work. PediaLax, on the other hand, usually causes a bowel movement within 30 minutes to 6 hours. They may want to evaluate your child to determine the cause of constipation. Drinking alcohol, especially excessive drinking, can cause stomach problems and might worsen side effects caused by MiraLAX, such as:.

MiraLAX can interact with several other medications. You may also wonder how it might interact with fiber and certain foods. Below is a list of medications that can interact with MiraLAX. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with MiraLAX.

Different drug interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some can interfere with how well a drug works, while others can cause increased side effects.

Before taking MiraLAX, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions. If you have questions about drug interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

MiraLAX and other laxatives can sometimes cause electrolyte imbalances. Certain diuretics can also cause these problems. Taking laxatives with diuretics might increase the risk of serious side effects caused by electrolyte imbalances, such as muscle weakness and heart rhythm problems. Certain medications prolong your QT interval, which means they might affect the rhythm of your heartbeat. These imbalances can increase the risk of a serious heart arrhythmia in people who have a prolonged QT interval.

If you have electrolyte imbalances caused by MiraLAX or other laxatives, you should not take medications that prolong the QT interval. MiraLAX bowel prep procedures may decrease the amount of these drugs that your body absorbs. Many people take daily fiber products to prevent constipation or for general digestive health. Fiber products are usually a first choice for preventing and treating constipation. MiraLAX powder should be added to four to eight ounces of water or other liquids. These other liquids can include milk or coffee.

MiraLAX can be mixed with and consumed in milk. Be sure to mix it with at least four to eight ounces of milk. MiraLAX can be mixed with and consumed in coffee. Be sure to mix it with at least four to eight ounces of coffee. MiraLAX is classified as an osmotic laxative, not a stool softener. However, both products do soften the stool. Osmotic laxatives do this by drawing water into the colon large intestine. Stool softeners do it by drawing water into the stool itself. Yes, MiraLAX is a laxative.

This means it works by drawing water into the colon. Yes, you can take MiraLAX with fiber. Many people take fiber daily to prevent constipation and for general digestive health. 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. Depending on the cause, your doctor may recommend long-term use of MiraLAX or other treatments.

MiraLAX is not available in prescription form. Similar products such as GoLytely are available by prescription from a doctor. MiraLAX is sometimes used after surgery to prevent and treat constipation. Your doctor may want to evaluate the cause of your symptoms. Depending on the cause, your doctor may recommend MiraLAX or other treatments. But if your symptoms are severe, call or go to the nearest emergency room right away.

Before taking MiraLAX, talk with your doctor about your health history. MiraLAX may not be appropriate for you if you have certain medical conditions. Each MiraLAX package is given an expiration date by the manufacturer of the product. This date is printed on the package. The purpose of the expiration date is to guarantee the effectiveness of the medication during this time. However, an FDA study showed that many medications may still be good beyond the expiration date listed on the bottle.

How long a medication remains good can depend on many factors, including how and where the medication is stored.