1. < Digestive Health

Miralax not working

Posted by cvg50 @cvg50, Jul 3, 2021

I’m a 70-yr old male and started developing constipation Omer the past few months. Taking Miralax 1x day for 3 days—spacing it out over a few weeks— usually did the trick, but not this time. Suggestions! Thx

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euqcaj | @euqcaj | Aug 18, 2021
In reply to @keeg1010 "Hi Jacque! I am so glad you checked in. I have been looking for our original..." + (show)
@keeg1010

Hi Jacque! I am so glad you checked in. I have been looking for our original posts for a few days and couldn't find them. I wanted to check in and see how you were doing. I can totally relate to the diet issue...that's why when Keegan was younger, I stopped the Miralax because the dosage being standard did not work. If he ate something constipating, I'd have to try and adjust the dosage depending on what he ate (if there were constipating foods) and we either ended up not being able to go or not being able to stop going! So, here's what Keegan's GI said:
1. For milder symptoms use benefiber or citrucel daily and add miralax
2. If no improvement, switch to prunelax.
3. Add 1/2 to 1 bottle of magnesium citrate once a week for symptoms of stool retention.
4. If prunelax isn't working, stop and start senna 8.6mg. One every other day (keep miralax).If not working, One senna every day or switch to two senna every day.
5. Add glycerine suppositories in the morning every other day to initiate urge for bowel retraining. Continue for 4 weeks and then stop.
If you are super backed up, I would go ahead and start with the 1 bottle of magnesium citrate liquid to try and clear out the intestine. If you're able to clear out, then I would try the other options and see if they help. If not, let me know. I can always reach out to my GI and ask for other suggestions.
I hope you enjoyed the family time but am sorry to hear that your having issues. Keep me posted. I'll say some extra prayers.
Kerry

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Thank you Kerry. I'm confused though about the Prunelax and Senna. Prunelax, on the box says, Dried Senna Leaf Extract 150mg. Is Senna something different? And I was taking 4 of them for about 4 days and nothing happened. (again due to diet, I believe.) Plus a glass of Miralax in the evening. I printed out your list. Thank you . But can you clarify the Senna vs. Prunelax for me?

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1 reply
keeg1010 | @keeg1010 | Aug 18, 2021
In reply to @euqcaj "Thank you Kerry. I'm confused though about the Prunelax and Senna. Prunelax, on the box says,..." + (show)
@euqcaj

Thank you Kerry. I'm confused though about the Prunelax and Senna. Prunelax, on the box says, Dried Senna Leaf Extract 150mg. Is Senna something different? And I was taking 4 of them for about 4 days and nothing happened. (again due to diet, I believe.) Plus a glass of Miralax in the evening. I printed out your list. Thank you . But can you clarify the Senna vs. Prunelax for me?

Jump to this post

Hi there,
So, I looked it up. Senna 8.6mg is made up of sennosides. This is what I found on Web MD:
Senna fruit seems to be gentler than senna leaf. This has led the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) to warn against long-term use of senna leaf, but not senna fruit. The AHPA recommends that senna leaf products be labeled, "Do not use this product if you have abdominal pain or diarrhea. Consult a healthcare provider prior to use if you are pregnant or nursing. Discontinue use in the event of diarrhea or watery stools. Do not exceed recommended dose. Not for long-term use."
Senna contains many chemicals called sennosides. Sennosides irritate the lining of the bowel, which causes a laxative effect. So, I'm guessing senna is mad up of the senna fruit (sennosides). But I could be wrong. I was googling the difference between senna leaf extract and sennosides and that's what came up. If I find a better explanation, I'll let you know.

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euqcaj | @euqcaj | Aug 24, 2021
In reply to @keeg1010 "Hi Jacque. I am so glad you are started the new regimen of meds and am..." + (show)
@keeg1010

Hi Jacque. I am so glad you are started the new regimen of meds and am praying they work as well for you as they do for Keegan. I started Keegan at 1 prunelax daily in the pm, the mag gummy in the morning, and the Miralax in the pm. It did take about a week for his system to adjust but once it did, he was having up to 6 BM's a day so that's when I cut it down to every other day (4x a week). Keegan took the Bisacodyl, Senokot, pretty much everything under the sun along with Miralax and it never worked. The prunelax is definitely much gentler on his stomach. You can start out with one prunelax a day (that's where we started) and even go up to 2 a day, along with the magnesium citrate and Miralax. I did the once a day and really was doubtful it would work but as his system started to adjust, the dose needed to be lowered to the 4x a week. If you haven't had a BM in a few days, you might want to try the magnesium citrate liquid form to try and start a cleanse and keep the new routine but I would definitely start at one prunelax daily instead of the 4x a week. You can always adjust the prunelax, adding a second daily dose or cutting it back, depending on how you respond. We are cheering you on and am hoping to hear this works and solves the issue for you. Keep us posted 🙂
Kerry

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Hi Kerry I just wanted to check in and let you know you won't be hearing anything from me for a couple of weeks. I will be off the Internet for awhile. Unfortunately, I did not have results from using the Prunelax after one week. I know there may still be some adjusting I need to do. But, one night I took 4 in the evening and I did have results. I also had some very uncomfortable cramping but that happens with Bisacodyl also. It was pretty intense. I tried taking 2 tablets in the morning and 2 at night for a week and it didn't do anything, so to speak. So now I'm "playing" with the dosage. I also bought some Senokot and can't really give a report on that. I'm thinking my system needs more than the usual dosage because of my "tortuous intestine"/long, slow transit time. Thank you for all your support and I won't give up. Say "hi" to your son for me. I think of you both often. Take care of yourselves and I will check back in September. Jacque

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1 reply
keeg1010 | @keeg1010 | Aug 24, 2021
In reply to @euqcaj "Hi Kerry I just wanted to check in and let you know you won't be hearing..." + (show)
@euqcaj

Hi Kerry I just wanted to check in and let you know you won't be hearing anything from me for a couple of weeks. I will be off the Internet for awhile. Unfortunately, I did not have results from using the Prunelax after one week. I know there may still be some adjusting I need to do. But, one night I took 4 in the evening and I did have results. I also had some very uncomfortable cramping but that happens with Bisacodyl also. It was pretty intense. I tried taking 2 tablets in the morning and 2 at night for a week and it didn't do anything, so to speak. So now I'm "playing" with the dosage. I also bought some Senokot and can't really give a report on that. I'm thinking my system needs more than the usual dosage because of my "tortuous intestine"/long, slow transit time. Thank you for all your support and I won't give up. Say "hi" to your son for me. I think of you both often. Take care of yourselves and I will check back in September. Jacque

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I'm sad to hear that things are not going well. Do you have a good GI that you see? I'll be thinking of you and praying you get some answers that work. Take care and check in when you come back.
Kerry

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2 replies
euqcaj | @euqcaj | Aug 25, 2021
In reply to @keeg1010 "I'm sad to hear that things are not going well. Do you have a good GI..." + (show)
@keeg1010

I'm sad to hear that things are not going well. Do you have a good GI that you see? I'll be thinking of you and praying you get some answers that work. Take care and check in when you come back.
Kerry

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Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. That's the best medicine!

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1 reply
keeg1010 | @keeg1010 | Aug 25, 2021
In reply to @euqcaj "Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. That's the best medicine!" + (show)
@euqcaj

Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. That's the best medicine!

Jump to this post

Take care of yourself and check in when you get back online 🙂
Kerry

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tarmansbks | @tarmansbks | Aug 26, 2021

I looked up side effects of Miralax and had to quit it. I had headaches, nausea, bloating and cramping. Some of these symptoms are particularly applicable to persons over 60. It is not a perfect remedy. I am trying bowel massage which I learned from a pelvic floor physical therapist - it is on the surface of your abdomen and can be learned reliably on you tube. Going the route of just plain prunes and prune juice with pulp and kefir. My G/I motility specialist told me water enemas ok and suppositories. Not the cleanest route but the least toxic.

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lasirvent | @lasirvent | Aug 26, 2021
In reply to @keeg1010 "I'm sad to hear that things are not going well. Do you have a good GI..." + (show)
@keeg1010

I'm sad to hear that things are not going well. Do you have a good GI that you see? I'll be thinking of you and praying you get some answers that work. Take care and check in when you come back.
Kerry

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The only thing that works for me is a syrup called lactulose. It’s amazing!

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1 reply
keeg1010 | @keeg1010 | Aug 26, 2021
In reply to @lasirvent "The only thing that works for me is a syrup called lactulose. It’s amazing!" + (show)
@lasirvent

The only thing that works for me is a syrup called lactulose. It’s amazing!

Jump to this post

I hadn't heard of that before. Thanks for sharing 🙂

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cvg50 | @cvg50 | Sep 13, 2021

As the initiator of this thread I wanted to provide an update for whomever it might benefit. My chronic constipation and accompanying occasional nausea appear to have resolved themselves. Some of it is due to an increase in water intake, some due to an increase in fiber (metamucil), and some--and here is the crux, I believe--due to a resolution of a stressful situation. Never discount stress! Everyone reacts differently to stress, and many of us feel it in the gut. (I really need to start meditating again!)

10 days ago I finally had the colonoscopy (the Dr. couldn't schedule it any sooner), and all was fine; the GI doctor removed a tiny polyp and the biopsy proved negative. I did have some constipation about 4 days post-procedure, took Miralax at day 6 just as this situation, too, was resolving itself. I do believe that the Miralax was not working earlier in large measure because the stress was just knotting me up.

With all of this behind me (OK, pun not intended, honestly) my desire for food has increased and I just feel better on several levels.

Thank you again to everyone who posted with suggestions and who shared their own situations. It helps enormously to know there's a community offering support.

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