Miralax
Miralax is a 119 g bottle of flavourless polyethylene glycol 3350 powder for constipation: it is stirred into a drink to soften hard, dry stools.
- Category
- Digestive Health
- Active ingredient
- Polyethylene Glycol 3350
- Route
- Oral
- Form
- Powder
- Strengths
- 119g
You will receive a quality generic equivalent, depending on stock.
Shipped in a discreet, unmarked envelope.
Details
- Conditions
- Constipation
- Brands with the same ingredient
- Polyethylene Glycol
- Therapeutic Class
- Laxative
- Pharmacological Class
- Osmotic agent
- Minor Side Effects
- Bloating, Abdominal discomfort
- Moderate Side Effects
- Diarrhoea
- Dosage Forms
- Powder
- Administration Route
- Oral
- Originator
- Bayer
- Onset Time
- 1–3 days
- Duration
- As needed
- Storage Instructions
- Store at room temperature in a dry place.
What you will receive
Miralax is the originator brand name, made by Bayer. We use it to identify the medicine; the pack you receive is a generic equivalent, not the original Miralax.
- The same active ingredient (Polyethylene Glycol 3350) at the same strength.
- The exact brand supplied depends on what is in stock when your order ships.
FAQ
What pack sizes does Miralax come in?
Miralax 119g comes in bottles, in packs of 1 to 5 bottles. The pack contains generic polyethylene glycol 3350, not the original Miralax. Larger packs cost less per bottle.
What happens if my Miralax parcel goes missing?
Miralax bottles ship in plain, unbranded packaging with nothing outside about the contents. If a parcel does not arrive within the delivery window, or arrives damaged, it is sent again free; if that is not possible, the order is refunded.
What are the alternative names for Miralax and polyethylene glycol 3350?
Miralax is a brand name of polyethylene glycol 3350, which is also sold as ClearLax. Here, polyethylene glycol 3350 can be bought online as generic Miralax. These are generics, not the original brand.
How long does Miralax take to work?
Expect a softer stool after one to three days, since each daily dose builds on the one before. It will not clear things within the hour. Bisacodyl and senna are quicker, though cramping is more likely with them.
What can I mix Miralax with?
Plain water is easiest, but the powder also dissolves in squash, fruit juice, tea or coffee, hot or cold. Stir until the drink goes clear. If some settles at the bottom, stir again before you drink.
Can I drink alcohol with Miralax?
Alcohol does not react with polyethylene glycol 3350, but it does leave you short of fluid, and constipation is worse when you are dehydrated. One drink alongside plenty of water is unlikely to matter; a heavy night works against the laxative.
Does Miralax contain sugar or sodium?
The plain powder is nothing but polyethylene glycol 3350 — no sugar, no sodium and no added electrolytes. That makes it a sensible choice if you are watching your salt or your blood sugar, and it will not push glucose up the way a sweet syrup can.
Can Miralax help with constipation from painkillers?
Yes. Constipation is a common side effect of opioid painkillers such as codeine or morphine, and polyethylene glycol 3350 is a standard laxative for it. It softens the stool without stimulating the bowel muscles, which suits a gut that painkillers have slowed down.
About Miralax
What Miralax does
Miralax is a flavourless powder that you stir into a drink. Its active ingredient, polyethylene glycol 3350, is an osmotic laxative: it draws water into the bowel and holds it in the stool, rather than stimulating the bowel wall. The stool already there softens and passes more easily. Almost none of the powder is absorbed into the bloodstream, so it acts in the gut.
Constipation covers a few things: going less often than usual, straining, or passing stools that are hard and lumpy. Fibre, fluids and daily movement fix many cases. When they are not enough, an osmotic laxative is the usual next step. It behaves quite differently from stimulant laxatives such as bisacodyl or senna, which work by setting off muscle contractions in the bowel wall.
Mixing and taking a dose
An adult dose is 17 g of powder stirred into a glass of water, squash, juice, tea or coffee until it dissolves. There is barely any taste, so most drinks work. Take it once a day, at a time that fits your routine, and keep drinking water through the day; the powder needs fluid to do its job.
Do not expect it to act within the hour. It builds up over a few days of steady use, so the first dose may do little on its own.
Side effects to expect
Bloating, wind, mild stomach cramps and looser stools are the usual complaints, and they often settle as the gut adjusts. A dose that is too big for you shows up as diarrhoea, which is the signal to drop back to a smaller amount. Rarely, PEG 3350 causes an allergic reaction: a rash with swelling of the face, lips or throat, or trouble breathing, needs urgent treatment.
It is not for anyone with a blocked or perforated bowel. Severe stomach pain with vomiting and no bowel movement needs urgent attention rather than a laxative.
The 119 g bottle
A 119 g bottle holds about seven 17 g doses — roughly a week at one dose a day. The powder keeps well if you screw the cap on tightly and keep moisture out, and it stays good until the date printed on the bottle. If you only need it now and then, one bottle goes a long way.
Sources
- Constipation - NIDDK — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
- Constipation - NHS — NHS