MiraLAX and Vomiting: What Users Say

• Lil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 17, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I'm about to have my 15th colonoscopy. I'm only 53 but due to cancer, I have one a year. I've tried every prep under the sun. The last colonoscopy was January of 2020. I used Dulcolax, Magnesium Citrate, and MiraLAX. Now I've learned from experience, I stop eating meats a week before the procedure. I only eat soft foods, and 2 days before, I switch to just liquids. I did great with the cleansing. The only problem I had was with the Magnesium Citrate, once I drank that bottle, I vomited for almost an hour. Not nice-it was coming out of both ends. I only drank half of the MiraLAX and was clean. I mixed mine with apple juice, I can't stand Gatorade. Wishing everyone luck with the cleansing!"

• J13...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 16, 2016

For Constipation "This drug was effective for me. I went through a bout of severe anxiety and panic for about 3 weeks. I lost 25 pounds and did not eat much of anything for 2 weeks. As a result, my digestive system basically shut down. When I began to eat again, I did not have a bowel movement for 15 days. I took a Dulcolax pill and had extreme cramping, dry heaving, full-body sweats, and painful bowel movements where I needed to be close to a toilet all day. I went another 8 days without using the bathroom, and I tried MiraLAX. I only took 1/4 of the dosage, and within a day I had 3 bowel movements. I did have some minor cramping, and I did sense an urgency to go and could not have held it, but it produced soft movements, not explosive painful ones."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 14, 2015

For Constipation, Acute "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."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I used this MiraLAX prep last week along with Dulcolax, and I will NEVER use it again. After the third dose, I still had not had a bowel movement. Then, all at once, I broke out into a profuse cold sweat and felt as though I would pass out. I headed for the bedroom to lay down, and after about 3 minutes, a wave of nausea hit and I barely made it back to the bathroom before projectile vomit occurred. This was my 3rd colonoscopy/endoscopy, and NEVER AGAIN WILL I USE THIS PREP. After I vomited the poison from my system, I felt better and continued with the process. I was able to have the procedure, but I told my doctor what happened, and he said from now on he would use MoviPrep or Suprep."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I tried the MiraLAX colonoscopy prep about 3 weeks ago because I didn't want to have to drink the traditional prep, and it sounded less awful. BIG mistake. I did exactly as I was supposed to, liquid diet, etc., and this made me so sick, I was up with diarrhea and vomiting all night. Not only that, my 8:30 am colonoscopy had to be canceled because I was nowhere near clear, even though I had taken all of it per instructions. It has taken me 3 weeks for my bowels to become normal again, and I'm getting ready to do a 'make-up' colonoscopy using the traditional yucky drink. At least the yuck will work. MiraLAX as an occasional laxative is fine, but never for colonoscopy prep, at least not for me."

• JJa...
• January 7, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "Have had many colonoscopies due to colon cancer in the family. I had used MiraLAX before with no problem. This time, after 4 doses, I started vomiting and did not stop until the MiraLAX Gatorade mixture was mostly out of my system."

• Thr...
• June 12, 2016

For Constipation "I just need some stability in my life. If I can't get that from a laxative, where can I? I tried this several weeks ago for 5 days with no results, so I ended up taking Dulcolax pink tabs and almost got myself hospitalized from those little pink tablets of hellfire. My doctor advised I try MiraLAX every day to keep things moving, so I tried again. Three days/doses later, I began cramping after dose three and moved my bowels eight times in six hours with much vomiting. Very different experiences from one person."

• hED...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 4, 2021

For Constipation "I have always had trouble with being constipated, ever since I was a child. I have a sluggish colon with gastroparesis. I remember having to go to the emergency room several times throughout my childhood due to severe stomach cramps and my parents being told that I had stool backed up almost to my stomach each time. Now, with those issues in tow, I also have IBS-C & opioid-induced constipation. I have tried Movantik, Linzess, Amtiza, Milk of Magnesia, Ex-Lax, stool softeners, fiber (which is a nightmare and can obstruct your intestines if you have low or slow motility like I do), and all the other tricks in the book to alleviate constipation. I can take MiraLAX 4 to 5 days with absolutely no change in bowel movements but a lot of negative effects such as intense waves of nausea, intense gas, bloating, stomach pain, headaches, and feeling extremely ill. I experience electricity-type sensations throughout my entire body with vomiting. It literally feels like I've been poisoned."

• Jen...
• April 17, 2021

For Constipation "I suffer from chronic constipation. I took the adult recommended dose mixed with sweet tea. After two hours, my stomach began gurgling. I barely made it to the bathroom. It has been like water after the first two loose movements. It has also made me extremely nauseated, and I've vomited twice. I feel so sick right now, it's unreal."

• jta...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 15, 2016

For Constipation "MiraLAX was a lifesaver for me. I was nearly hospitalized because constipation had caused aspiration pneumonitis and greatly worsened my GERD and asthma. I was losing weight, though I was already underweight, because I couldn't eat many meals, and I was also having chronic moderate/severe abdominal pain. The MiraLAX worked amazingly for me, although it took some time (a week, 2 capfuls 2x daily, though now I do 2 once a day). My brother experienced problems with it though. He started with 1 capful and was vomiting all night. However, he went to ½ capful and slowly titrated up to 2, and now PRN. Overall: highly effective, but variable side effect profile. Insurance only covered because I was taking such large doses, otherwise, they will not."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 6, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "This was my third colonoscopy, but first time with MiraLAX. I ended up in the emergency room and spent 15 hours vomiting and had severe upper abdominal pain."

• Den...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 11, 2019

For Constipation "This caused really bad pain that then caused me to vomit, then the pain stopped."

• Anonymous
• August 27, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "I was prescribed PEG as a prep for a colonoscopy. The medicine made me throw up, and the procedure had to be rescheduled. Thoroughly disgusting stuff."