Skip to main content

Polyethylene glycol 3350 for Constipation, Acute User Reviews

Brand names: MiraLAX, GlycoLax, ClearLax, GaviLAX, Purelax, PEG3350, HealthyLax, Gialax, SunMark ClearLax

Rating: 7.9

Polyethylene glycol 3350 has an average rating of 7.9 out of 10 from a total of 25 reviews for the treatment of constipation, acute. 80% of reviewers reported a positive experience, while 12% reported a negative experience.

10
44%
9
20%
8
16%
7
0%
6
0%
5
0%
4
8%
3
0%
2
0%
1
12%

Reviews for Polyethylene glycol 3350

Commonly mentioned side effects
  • lje...
  • February 18, 2013

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I have Irritable Bowel Syndrome with constipation. Before taking Miralax, I would go days without a bowel movement. Nothing but misery. After talking with my doctor about Miralax, she suggested that I take it every day for one year. Upon doing so, I had a bowel movement and sometimes several every day. I got to the point that I sometimes was losing control so started cutting back on how many days I took Miralax. I now take it 2-3 times a week, usually have a bowel movement daily and have control of the situation."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
210 Report
  • Mir...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • February 3, 2020

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "Some parts of this review may be TMI - so you are forewarned - but I am hoping to help anyone in my shoes. I have had constipation issues since I was 18 (40 now) lately, it has been getting so severe that I ended up in the ER with severely impacted stool (twice). That was a nightmare. I don't like prescription medication so the doctor told me to try MiraLAX once a day. Man, this has been a lifesaver. If I notice my stools are too soft, I will skip the next day and take it the day after. I mix a capful with Gatorade, let it sit in the fridge for about half an hour, and when I see it's all dissolved, down the hatch it goes. No taste and works wonders!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
80 Report
  • Liz...
  • June 13, 2011

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I had been suffering from severe constipation that couldn't be cured even with laxatives for 2 weeks until my doctor recommended Miralax. I took it with no real progress for 3 days, but on the 4th day, I finally started having normal bowel movements! I did not experience any side effects whatsoever as you do with laxatives. (No diarrhea, gas, bloating, sudden urgency, etc.). I finally had complete relief! Also, I mixed Miralax with cranberry juice. It had virtually no taste and dissolves completely. I highly recommend this to anyone suffering from constipation."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
172 Report

Frequently asked questions

  • Anonymous
  • March 13, 2012

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I recently had a laparoscopic hysterectomy. As some of you may know, anesthesia from surgery can cause the bowels to basically just stop moving. Add to this the trauma of surgery in a nearby region, combined with taking narcotics, and I was MISERABLE. It took 3 days for it to work, but when it did, it was a major miracle. I did not realize constipation could be so bad you'd consider that you might DIE. Miralax not only works, but it does not give you the horrible sick cramps you get with stimulant laxatives. Just the best ever."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
128 Report
  • MP2...
  • January 12, 2015

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I've been constipated for some time, and I couldn't have a normal bowel movement. Then a friend recommended I try MiraLAX because they were hospitalized and having problems. I tried it the first day, and I loved it so much that I do it once a day, every day to once every couple of days. I highly recommend this to anyone who suffers from constipation. It also mixes in well with anything you want to drink, so it's tasteless and easy to drink."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
68 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
  • LRB...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • October 2, 2019

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "MiraLAX is amazing! Give it a few days to work. It’s not instant, but it works. I promise. I’m 17 weeks pregnant and hadn’t pooped in 5 days. (Trying to go made me cry, sweat, and bleed. It felt like I was stuffed up with a softball.) I was ready to go to the ER for manual disimpaction :( Then, on day three of using MiraLAX, I pooped! Yes!! I literally skipped and ballerina-twirled out of the bathroom! I texted my husband and best friend that I pooped! I can’t wait to gift a bottle of MiraLAX to all my pregnant friends :)"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
40 Report
  • Kat...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • June 14, 2015

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I am 65 years old and suffer from diverticulitis. I ended up being hospitalized and did get better, but not totally. One day, I was in horrible pain and vomited. I had an impaction. The doctor gave me high doses of antibiotics and prescribed MiraLAX. That was a few months ago. I only take as needed, as the pain on the left side signals trouble. As long as I don't get constipated, thanks to MiraLAX, I am okay. This stuff works for me. I buy Costco brand since it is cheaper."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
58 Report
  • Cus...
  • September 10, 2013

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I suffer from syringomyelia. This is a condition that severely affects your nervous system. The stools that my digestive process produces kind of change from day to day. Since I am already on a whole foods diet without any dairy or wheat products, sometimes I'm regular. Other times my stool will either be too hard to get out and thus will stay stuck inside of me for a few days, resulting in terrible gas/bloating. Other times my stool will be completely liquid, and yet because my nervous system is not responding correctly, I just can't flush it out of my intestines. Whenever my bowels are not functioning correctly, all I need is a small dose of Miralax in a cup of water, and within 20 minutes, I'm able to go no problem. Highly recommended."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
69 Report
  • Avv...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 5, 2019

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I’ve used MiraLAX previously with success. Most recently, after a number of issues, a change in diet, and medication changes, I had developed significant constipation issues. After a few days of discomfort and a fear of straining creating other issues such as hemorrhoids and diverticulitis, I decided to give it a try again. Worked within an hour on a full dose. No major cramping or pain, but definitely a need to go. The most uncomfortable side effect was the excessive sweating. Didn’t last long but was quite uncomfortable. Some mild nausea when it first started, but ended quickly as I continued to have bowel movements."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
31 Report
  • Use...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • May 31, 2016

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I had used other laxatives to regulate my digestive system, and many of the other laxatives gave me awful side effects, such as nausea, excruciating cramping, and others. MiraLAX worked very well without the side effects the other meds had."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
37 Report
  • ccb...
  • Taken for 6 months to 1 year
  • November 6, 2015

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "Heart medication has caused acute constipation. When I take MiraLAX, I go get BMs, but the effect is that I am extremely gaseous and each time gas passes, a small amount of poop comes out. It keeps me running to the bathroom and holding gas day and night. Sometimes I get to where I cannot stand the constipation any longer and try the MiraLAX again... same horrible results and never feel cleaned out."

4 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
40 Report
  • Jay...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • April 20, 2017

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I was chubby for years and almost never had bowel movements. When I did, it was with pain so severe I nearly passed out. My doctor recommended MiraLax, and I started taking it every night. I do go to the bathroom now, and sometimes multiple times a day. I feel so much better and have lost over 50 pounds over two years. I have blood work and a complete workup every three months, but so far, so good. Best part: I am no longer a couch potato and work outside a lot and swim. It really changed my life."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
28 Report
  • Scp...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • February 7, 2019

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I have been taking it for about a week, and I notice my stomach is extended and was way bloated. I read this was one of the side effects of taking MiraLAX. I go to the bathroom, but I look like I’m 3 months pregnant. What to do? I’m only 5’5 and 130 lbs. Bloating and gas are really bad. Help."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
23 Report
  • Poo...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 6, 2016

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I hadn't had a bowel movement in a few days, so I mixed some of this into my apple juice, and within 3 minutes, I was in the bathroom. It works really well, but it wouldn't stop coming out... I feel less blocked up, though, so if you feel blocked, definitely try it."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
28 Report
  • Mir...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • April 17, 2023

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "So for me, I am on a few medications that cause constipation. I also am on a stool softener and a pill called Movantic to help me use the bathroom. I recently had a colonoscopy, and everything looked fine, just struggling with severe constipation. There are times when I haven't gone for 2 weeks. I messaged my doctor and asked what to do, and he told me to add MiraLAX daily. I know this sounds weird, but I just had the best bowel movement I think I have ever had. It was like they described self-serve ice cream, and it was a lot! I always drink lots of water, and I'm on two other medications for this reason. So adding MiraLAX has made a huge difference! I am very happy with this light laxative. It's safe to use every day. Also, you can play around with the dose depending on what your level of constipation looks like. Mine being severe, I've been taking it every day for a week, and I finally had a bowel movement. After having a really, really bad day last week of not being able to go, I was in such pain!"

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report
  • Anj...
  • Taken for 2 to 5 years
  • March 24, 2021

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I've been using generic MiraLAX 2-3 times a day for years for drug-induced constipation. The problem was that I was either running to the bathroom or in pain from constipation. Twice a day could be too much, but I never knew. Finally, I decided to get an appointment with a gastroenterologist, and she suggested that I also dose twice daily with Metamucil. The combo gives me normal poops most of the time. I really feel it if I get busy and forget. Now unless I feel impacted, I take MiraLAX twice a day and fiber twice a day. The combo is amazing."

8 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
11 Report
  • Tha...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 20, 2023

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I'm 52 and healthy. Got completely blocked up after eating too much cereal with psyllium husk (even with drinking multiple gallons of water!) and felt like I had a boulder in my colon for a few days. I was going to have my wife take me to the doctor's office or the emergency room for help, but then I remembered that after a surgical procedure several years ago, my mom took antibiotics that did the same to her, and her doctor gave her MiraLAX to solve the problem. So my wife went to the store and got some for me, and I immediately took a full dose (17g) with half a gallon of water and a small bottle of Gatorade Zero. Within an hour, I could feel (and hear) it beginning to soften the mass inside me. And about 18 hours (and another half gallon of water) after taking that single dose, the problem was a memory with minimal pain in its solution. And though I hope to never have to use it again, I will be keeping a bottle of this stuff in my medicine cabinet...just in case. Recommended. Good luck!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report
  • She...
  • November 15, 2020

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "My first day of use of MiraLAX, I had a lot of passing gas and one small movement. My second day, a small movement, but cramping and bloating feelings began. At night, the nausea and cramping stopped me from sleeping. Third day, still some cramping and fullness. No movement, just cramping and bloating. Going back to the urgent care for instructions. Will not take MiraLAX again."

4 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
9 Report
  • Lac...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • January 31, 2022

"You need to have a very wise doctor. This medication is NOT safe if you have kidney disease. Most primary care and internal medicine doctors are ignorant of this fact. I do have kidney disease, and my nephrologist has told me that, and when I mentioned it to my doctor, she said it was absolutely untrue. Time to get a new doctor, don't you think?!!!"

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
5 Report
  • Hax...
  • Taken for 5 to 10 years
  • December 30, 2019

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "3rd bottle of GaviLAX I got from my pharmacy that was rancid. Not sure what chemical(s) are added to it, but the smell and taste are definitely bad. Taking it back to the pharmacy for an exchange to a different product. Even grocery store generic tastes better (meaning no taste or smell)."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report
  • Cle...
  • July 30, 2021

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "I’m a healthy 24-year-old female. Usually very regular. But after a recent round of antibiotics, I was suddenly constipated for about 9 days. I tried everything: Metamucil, prune juice, Dulcolax. I finally decided to try MiraLAX. The first time I took a capful, the recommended dosage, it did nothing. Then a couple of days later, I upped the dosage. I poured half the bottle into about 8 oz of prune juice and chugged it. I didn’t feel anything until 3 1/2 hours later (around 10:30 pm). When I tell y’all BUBBLE. GUTS. The most sudden and abrupt bout of gas, gurgling, cramping, and farting. I felt like I was going to poop my pants. I ran to the bathroom. Everything in my stomach was melted and pouring out of me. Not all liquid, just very, very soft stool coming out in a steady stream. For the rest of the night and into today (it’s 3 pm), I’m battling diarrhea. It’s not as bad now, and the cramping has stopped. But I feel so much lighter and relieved."

9 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
6 Report
  • Anonymous
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • August 13, 2012

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "Works great. No running for the toilet or staying home and waiting. Go about your business."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
91 Report
  • Jay...
  • Taken for 1 to 6 months
  • March 29, 2018

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "Every time I use MiraLAX, my body shows me how much it loves me. I can eat whatever I want because I know once the medicine kicks in, I have no worries. The best poop aid I have EVER used."

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
23 Report
  • Ott...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • March 1, 2018

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "Works too well. Forget going anywhere! Set a Guinness record for number of daily poos. I have a sore ass, so am getting off this stuff!"

10 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
16 Report
  • rac...
  • Taken for less than 1 month
  • June 17, 2019

Polyethylene glycol 3350 "It tastes bad. I have used MiraLAX for many years without any issues. I cannot take something that tastes this bad, twice a day."

1 / 10
Was this helpful?YesNo
5 Report

Are you taking this medicine?

Your review helps others make informed decisions.
Write a review
Reviews may be edited to correct grammar/spelling or remove inappropriate content. Reviews appearing to come from parties with a vested interest are not published. This information is not intended to endorse any medication and should not replace the expertise and judgment of healthcare professionals.