Miralax Question

Updated on January 15, 2008
Y.D. asks from Lewisville, TX
8 answers

My son has been constipated for at least a month. After using 3 suppositories in 1 week, I called the doctor and she said to try Miralax. So this is the 3rd day using it and still no poop so I am going to have to try another suppository because he is screaming and crying trying to get it out. He also has thrown up the 3 days he has taken the Miralax. So my question is, should I continue the Miralax, or just suck it up and take him to the doctor (right now we are in the process of getting Medicaid, so he does not have insurance). We have also been putting prune juice in his apple juice, and giving him prune baby food through a medicine dropper. Any other suggestions?

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A.H.

answers from Dallas on

If he eats well, try lots of fruits and veggies, make homemade fries- leaving the skin on- you can bake them in the oven- peanut butter on an apple- leave the skin. Salad- cucumbers (w/skin).

You could always ask the doctor about mineral oil, that has been used for many years and was suggested for my son who ate a lot of stirofoam once, I just don't know the proper dosage, but I added it to his koolaid, and he never noticed.

Good luck

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H.B.

answers from Dallas on

the miralex takes a couple of days to start working. And is he's been throwing up you have no idea if some of the miralax is even getting in his system. I would give him a enima also so he's not in pain. But I would keep giving him the miralax. I would not totally take him off I would wean him off. My first one was like this and we had to to a gastronologist for a while. And thats what he told us to do. Definitely wean him off little by little. Cold turkey and in a week or so you will be giving it to him again and like i said it takes a couple of days to start working.

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K.S.

answers from Dallas on

My son has been on miralax for over a year. We had severe issues. If he is throwing up, I would call the doctor. My son was throwing up and he got an xray done. While we waited for the xray results, the pedi had me give him an enema, but it didn't do anything. The pedi called with the results of the xray and we were off to the ER. The blockage was so high that the home type enema didn't work. THey gave him a deeper enema in the ER and he pooped for 5 hours straight. We then met with a pedi GI and he was xrayed there was still a little blocakge left. He was put on a heavy dose of miralax for the weekend and out popped the plug. He has been on the miralax ever since. We will start weaning him off it in March. I don't mean to scare you, but constipation can be a vicious cycle. The miralax can take a few days to work, but don't just take him off it colr turkey (as others have said) because it can start the cycle all over again. I hate giving my child medication everyday, but we tried all other natural solutions. I had even posted here and tried everything people told me, but none of it worked for us. We also found out that he has allergies to soy, eggs, beef and chocolate and eliminating those foods has helped.
Good Luck and feel free to message me if you have more questions.

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M.R.

answers from Dallas on

I would call the dr again. I take miralax and usually go w/in a few hrs. Maybe you can try milk of magnesia, I know that REALLY helps.

I hope this helps.
M.

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G.W.

answers from Auburn on

Y.,

this is what I would suggest because my son has issues like you are describing. After not having the bowel movement for three days, I suspect that there is probably a very large and hard mass of poop that is plugging him up. Buy a child's enema at the store and as hard as it may be, give it to your son. The liquid will soften the hard stool and help him get it out within a few minutes. Now, based on my experience with my little boy (who is also two), once that plug is removed, there will be several more heavy but looser diapers from where the Miralax has been trying to do it's job. Once he gets emptied out, give the Miralax for another two or three days in a row to keep him loose and moving. Then go two or three days without it to see if his system gets back on track. I find that about every 5 - 7 days my little guy will need a dose if the poop starts to get too hard and compacted again. We just went through everything I've described four days ago. The enema helped him pass a huge plug of poop that cleared the way for the other stuff behind it and now he's feeling better and back on track. Best wishes

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L.P.

answers from Dallas on

The miralax only softens the stool it does not him poo. My daughter has this problem too. My dr told us to start with 1 tsp in her cup mixed with anything, and if needed to up from there. We wanted her to not be able to hold the poo in any longer, and to keep her that way for atleast a month. Then to slowly start reducing the amount. She has been on this for about a year and her current dose is 1 and 1/2 tsp. At one point we were at 2 tsp and more, the worst this med will do is give him diahrrea. My daughter eats raisin and prunes like they are candy. I know what you are going thru and it can get very messy at times but once he is thru it and fully potty trained it feels great!

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D.M.

answers from Dallas on

Hi, Y.-

My son was diagnosed with Encopresis (withholding his poop) when he was 5 yrs. old, and, long story short, I eventually took him to a pediatric gastro-enterologist, who told me to give him Miralax mixed with his milk once a day. It's been a few years since we did this, so I don't remember the dosage, but it was at least a full cap, and then the dose was lowered a little bit each month until we felt like it was okay to take him off. We went through this process over and over until he was finally old enough the consciously take control of himself. The Miralax does work, but first, the poop has to come out before it'll work very well, so a suppository sounds like a good idea. You can mix the Miralax with anything, like chocolate milk or whatever, and he shouldn't be able to taste it. I hope this helps you.

D.

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G.W.

answers from Dallas on

poor baby, he must be miserable. i would definitely call the doc. i thought miralax was so awesome after giving birth to my son and i was constipated for 2 weeks. it worked overnight for me (where nothing else did) and though i don't have problems with that often i keep it on hand. prunes and prune juice and suppositories worked for my little guy the one time he was constipated. i've also heard karo syrup works but have not tried it personally. i hope he's better soon. good luck.

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