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. MiraLAX should be stored at room temperature in its original container. If you have unused medication that has gone past the expiration date, talk to your pharmacist about whether you might still be able to use it. In the gastrointestinal tract, it retains water in the colon and within the stool. The increased water in the colon may also naturally stimulate contraction.
MiraLAX increases stool weight, softens the stool, and increases stool frequency. When taken orally, less than 0. The remainder of the oral dose is recovered in the stool. MiraLAX is not fermented or metabolized in the gastrointestinal tract. MiraLAX should be stored at room temperature, 68 degrees F to 77 degrees F, in its original container. Milk of magnesia is a common over-the-counter medication for constipation relief. Learn about the uses, dosage, risks, and interactions here.
We look at some possible natural alternatives to laxatives for people looking to have a bowel movement. We also look at when to see a doctor. Your doctor must be able to see in order to complete the colonoscopy exam.
If your colon has too much stool on the inside, your doctor may not be able to see important things like polyps or cancer.
Is My Prep Working? The bowel movement coming out should look like fluids you are drinking — yellow, light, liquid, and clear like urine without many particles. This will start anywhere from a few minutes to 3 hours after you start your prep. This is uncomfortable and almost always safe. Some people do not like the taste or smell of the medicine.
Please do not let these get in the way of you finishing the medicine as directed. My prep hasn't started working yet. What do I do? Different people respond differently to the bowel prep. If you have waited more than 3 hours without a response, then it may not be working well. Be sure you are drinking enough fluid. But don't use it for more than a few days, because mineral oil interferes with absorption of some vitamins and if inhaled it can cause pneumonia.
Consider wearing a protective pad in your undergarments to absorb any leakage. If the conservative route doesn't work, Dr. Wolf recommends the osmotic laxative MiraLAX or a generic version. These hold water in stool to soften it and increase bowel movements.
Common side effects are gas, bloating, and nausea. Another option that works for some people is diet candies containing the sweetener sorbitol. These essentially trigger a mild case of the runs. You may experience bloating and gas along with the laxative effect, however. Another option would be a magnesium-based laxative, such as milk of magnesia or magnesium citrate. These are members of a larger class of laxatives called saline osmotics, which draw water into the bowels and trigger bowel movements.
The active ingredients include magnesium, sulfate, citrate, and phosphate. But don't take more than the recommended amounts of these laxatives, or use them long-term, because they can throw off your chemistry. Combined with an underperforming kidney or heart failure, saline osmotic laxatives can be dangerous. Stimulant laxatives such as bisacodyl and cascara trigger contractions in the bowels that push the stool along. Caution: Enemas are generally not used under 2 years of age. For some children, a glycerin suppository can be used instead of an enema.
It also will help to release the soft stools. Enema Dosage: Caution: Saline Phosphate enemas can cause complications if too much is given. The dosage of enemas must be accurate, based on your child's weight. Dosage: 1 ounce for every 20 pounds of your child's weight. Don't give any child more than 4. Saline Phosphate enemas come in 2 sizes: children 2. Dosage based on your child's weight : 20 pounds.
Instructions for Giving an Enema: Have your child drink 1 or 2 glasses of water before the enema. Sometimes, enemas can cause dehydration. Have your child lie on his stomach. His knees should be pulled up and under him.
Enemas come in a disposable squeeze bag with a soft-tipped nozzle. Gradually squeeze the contents of the container into the rectum. When the right amount is given, remove the tube.
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