Miralax not working

Hi there. I really hope this can help you, as I know how horrible it is to be so constipated for days and then to go to explosive (and often unexpected) diarrhea. Not to mention impaction and enemas are just horrible. So, let's get into your questions. Our new GI was really a blessing. For the prunelax, you can start with one a day (morning or nighttime, whichever works better for you). If that doesn't work, you can go to prunelax twice a day in addition to the miralax. The magnesium gummies he takes is in the form of citrate and that's the one that works. That is also the form of liquid magnesium that I spoke about that you can buy at Walmart, Fry's, Walgreens, etc. If he didn't have a bowel movement before bed or if he missed a day in the beginning of the new regimen of meds, I would use 1/2 a bottle of magnesium citrate (it comes unflavored and flavored) and wait a half hour. If he didn't have a BM, I would give him the rest of the bottle and he always was able to go. As far as the gummies, I use that form because my son has cerebral palsy and autism and cannot swallow pills so the gummy was the easiest option. Tablet or capsule I'm sure is fine..just make sure it has at least 165mg of magnesium citrate, not the oxide. We started with one prunelax daily, one magnesium citrate gummy, and the miralax. He takes the gummy in the am and the prunelax and miralax at night and typically has 1-2 BM's a day. I went down to 4x a week because one prunelax daily was too much for him...and that's saying ALOT!! We use the prunelax minitabs...they have the regular size ones but I'm not sure if they are the same. The minitab is really small so it's just easier for us. I order the prunelax minitabs from Amazon as well as the miralax because it's so much less expensive. I get the magnesium citrate gummies and liquid form at Walmart. Really hope this helps for you. For 2 decades we struggled with constipation and impaction and nothing worked. Our new GI put him on this regimen and he has been able to use the restroom daily for 3 years now!

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God bless you. I have tears in my eyes and I'm not ashamed to tell you so. I am almost 70 years old (female) and have dealt with this all my life. I am in good health otherwise. Thank you SO much for taking the time to answer me. I feel hope. Give your son a hug from me and tell him I wish him all the best. I feel from your post that you have been through so much and it is wonderful to hear you found something that made his life better. I am grateful. My name is Jacque (Jackie). I was concerned that I had lost your initial message but I found it this morning and now you were so gracious to respond so quickly. Thank you!

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Jacque, I am so hopeful that this will help you as much as it helped my son. We spent so much time trying to regulate constipating foods, adding every type of fiber imaginable, using miralax alone, adding prunes into his diet, trying every stool softener on the market and nothing helped. Finding this GI was a Godsend! If you are in the valley and are in need of a GI, his name is Dr. Sumir Patel and he is fantastic. I am so glad to hear you are in good health otherwise. Let me know if this works for you. If not, Dr. Patel gave me some other ideas to try. Thank you for the love for my son. I will be sure to pass it along. He has been through a lot in his 23 years but he has a beautiful soul and a heart that is so full of love.
BTW...my name is Kerry. My son's name is Keegan. Keep us posted and I'm sending prayers your way.

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Thank you for the prayers Kerry. That means a lot to me. You have been so openly helpful and I am "excited" to begin my new regimen with hope! I live in Washington state and am not sure of what "valley" you are speaking of but thank you for sharing that Dr.'s name. We could always travel and a good recommendation is worth a lot when it comes to Dr.'s. Thank you so much and say "hi" to Keegan for me. I feel like I have understanding friends in the both of you. I will keep you posted.

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Hi there. I just found mayo connect and saw your post. I am not a doctor. I can only give you my experience with constipation. My son is 23 and has struggled his entire life with constipation and GI issues. We tried everything but nothing ever worked. We spent 2 decades trying to figure out how to get a normal BM when the only way he could go to the bathroom for years was if he was given a glycerin suppository. Sometimes it worked, sometimes we had to use multiple suppositories, sometimes he ended up impacted and we had to do an enema. About 3 years ago, we found a new GI (our old one retired). He put my son on a magnesium citrate supplement and prunelax minitabs-these are OTC. We added Miralax back in at night and only take the prunelax 4x a week (every day was too much). He does take the magnesium citrate gummy and miralax daily. He has been able to have a BM daily (sometimes twice!) without any difficulty. You can also buy liquid magnesium citrate OTC at your local Walmart, grocery store, etc. That is typically used for someone who is severely impacted and hasn't used the bathroom in days. He recommended (in the beginning before we got his dosing right with the new meds) to try having him drink half a bottle. If that didn't work in a 1/2 hour, to finish the bottle and within an hour, you'll be running for the bathroom.
Hope this helps! I know it made a HUGE difference fore my son.

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Hi This is Jacque. I am starting the OTC mini tabs (Prunelax), like your son. The 250mg Magnesium (capsules) in the morning and the Miralax and mini tab in the evening. I did not have any result from one mini tab but I've only taken it once. I'm scheduled to take another tonight at the 4 X a week schedule, like your son. Did he have immediate results from just taking 1 Prunelax right when he started this regimen? (along with the other meds,- Mag. and Miralax) Or did it take a few doses? (When I was taking the Bisacodyl, I had to take 3 to make it work and I'm wondering if I need more with the Prunelax also?) BUT I did feel my insides working with the Prunelax and maybe I just need more time. I would appreciate your sharing and experience. Also, I think the Prunelax is not as chemical as the Bisacodyl and might be gentler on the system. The Bisacodyl really wears me out and makes me feel weak. I'm still hoping for a "closer to normal existence" with this circumstance. Say "hi" to Keegan for me. I'm cheering him on and I'm thankful for your prayers.

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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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Oh thank you Kerry! I was wondering if I should use it daily in the beginning. Thank you for answering so quickly! I am so happy to have your support and friendship. I'll keep you posted. I'm very very grateful. Jacque

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I am very happy to try and help. The "valley" is Arizona. That's where we are. If you're ever out this way, let me know. I will keep you in my prayers. Keep us posted-I'm praying this will answer the struggles you've been dealing with. I know how relieved I was when Keegan got the help he so needed and deserved.

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Hello Kerry. I thought I'd check in. I was taking 2 Prunlax in the am and 2 in the pm with no results this last week. I think part of it was diet because of visiting relatives, etc. but I resorted to Bisacodyl yesterday because I was so miserable. I'm thinking that I will take 3 Prunelax along with my Miralax in the evening. (I have a "tortuous intestine", very long for a person my size, and a slow transit time.) I'm going to try that along with everything else, such as my psyllium mixed in my oatmeal or cereal, fiber, water, etc. You had mentioned there were some other regimen's your doctor had given Keegan and you would share those with me. Is that still possible? I was hopeful that the Prunelax would work because it seems to be easier on my system. The cost adds up though at taking 3 or 4 a day. It did work in the beginning and like I mentioned, I believe it was the diet for this last week that caused issues that constipated me. Thank you for caring. Jacque

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