Polyethylene glycol 3350 and Bloating: What Users Say

• Fai...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 30, 2019

For Constipation "Love MiraLAX! After my first semester of dining hall food in college, I was messed up BAD. I had to start using laxatives for relief, and they really bloated me out. My doctor recommended MiraLAX, and the rest is history. I’ve never been regular, but as long as I drink enough water, I have no problem getting a bowel movement with this! That’s also something my doctor said... STAY HYDRATED. MiraLAX is an osmotic-type laxative and really only works if you are drinking enough liquids! It takes one dose at night for me to have a movement around lunch the next day! If I haven’t been drinking a lot, then it usually takes 3-4 days of continual use for me to get a movement... and those are always loose. Otherwise, they are easy to pass and healthy quality."

• Lon...
• October 31, 2009

For Constipation "I have had chronic constipation since I was a little girl, I am now 30. I've tried ALL types of medications as well as different herbal supplements which only gave temporary relief. And when I say chronic, I mean CHRONIC! Senna, prunes, even the hideous Citrate Magnesium was sometimes NOT working. FINALLY MiraLAX came along and changed - or I should say regulated - my bowel movement function. At first, it didn't work very well, I just felt bloated and overstuffed, which I guess was okay because I ate less. However, once things started moving with the help of plenty of water, life feels SO much better. I know to take it first thing in the morning and let it settle for a few minutes before I give my stomach anything else to work on. So, I say give it time to work."

• Amy...
• November 29, 2018

For Bowel Preparation "I drank the MiraLAX in 64 oz Gatorade for colonoscopy. No other laxative used. Drank the entire prep between 7 pm and 11:30 pm. Nothing happened until 12:30 am. Was up the entire night on the toilet until my colonoscopy at 6:30 am, including at the doctor's office. However, my prep was super clean, and I don’t need another for 10 years, so it was worth staying up all night for. I recommend - it wasn't that hard to drink, no cramping or pain, just a bloating feeling. Tasted fine."

• lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I wonder if people recounting stories with vomiting and terrible cramping are also using the MiraLAX prep with Dulcolax, which can be known to cause these issues. I've been prescribed MiraLAX ONLY prep (no Dulcolax or other laxatives) now twice: once for a colonoscopy, once for abdominal surgery. Both times it is the easiest prep I have ever done, as someone who has had 3 colonoscopies prior and had to take other prep. I, like many of you, am in my 20s and still have an intense fear of vomiting. There is absolutely no nausea for me taking the MiraLAX-only prep. 14 caps in 64 oz, so a LOT of liquid, which helps as it draws water to the bowel and cleans you out. I was never advised to do split prep, so all in under two hrs. When mixed with Gatorade, pretty easy to get down, not the best tasting but a breeze in comparison to other colonoscopy preps I’ve had to do. No cramping or pain, the only discomfort I feel is the bloating and fullness from the amount of liquid consumed!"

• Mag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 19, 2019

For Constipation "Within hours of taking the recommended dose to help with post-op constipation, I basically got to relive the experience of a bowel prep all over again, but this time with violent gas pains, cramping, and bloating. I woke up at 1 AM and spent the rest of the night and following morning staggering back and forth from bed to the bathroom in agonizing pain. When the waves of cramping hit, I could barely stand or move. Excruciating! The worst part was, the consistency of my stools was so weird that I just kept having to go very little amounts at a time. It felt like the misery would never end. Especially after my poor insides had been scrambled around during surgery, this was one of the painful things that could happen. I even passed out for one hour in between all the madness and had a vivid nightmare that I was deceased and no one could help me. That is a pretty fitting summary of what taking one dose of MiraLAX felt like post-op. This stuff is pure awful."

• Sat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 27, 2019

For Constipation "My wife was into day 5 of postoperative constipation. We were starting to get concerned. We had followed dietary recommendations. On day 5, her surgeon directed her to use MiraLAX. I ran out and purchased it. No obvious effects on day 5 when she took it (but very little extra bloating, gas, or other side effects). Bingo, at 6 a.m. on the morning of day 6, things returned to normal-happy for her. Thus far, she has stayed regular with that single dosage on day 5. I don't think we could be any more satisfied with this product-especially for this specific condition."

• Fee...
• June 25, 2012

For Constipation "I haven't used the bathroom like I was supposed to in the last month. I have taken Fleet and other laxatives, but they just did not work. I felt so bloated, and I never stopped eating. Finally, I couldn't take it anymore, so I went to the doctor, and she prescribed me something to take. The medicine that she prescribed for me wasn't covered by my insurance, so I went to Walmart and saw that ClearLax had almost the same ingredients. I bought some apple juice and mixed it together. About an hour later, I really used the bathroom, and I feel great. If it works for me, it is some good stuff, and I am serious."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 19, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I just had my first colonoscopy, and I, like many others, was terrified of the prep. I was prescribed a split dose, which involved 2 Ducolax tablets an hour before drinking 32 ounces of prep the night before the procedure and 32 ounces 6 hours before my procedure. I am here to tell all of you that may be worried, it was a BREEZE! I started my low-fiber diet 6 days prior to my prep and followed the instructions given to me by my doctor exactly, which included taking a cap full of MiraLAX before bed 3 days prior to my prep. I took 2 Ducolax 2 hours before I started my prep and 1 Zofran (for nausea) and 1 Gas-X (for bloating) an hour before I started drinking the MiraLAX solution and was done cleaning out in less than 2 hours. For the second round, I did exactly the same thing and sailed right through. I am here to tell you not to be afraid. Go get your colonoscopy - it could save your life."

• Ser...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• February 5, 2016

For Constipation "I have IBS-C, and over the years, have tried just about every laxative out there. My doctor prescribed me MiraLAX in 2008, and I took it daily until 2014. This is a very gentle laxative that can take several days to work. It's completely flavorless. The only side effects I noticed were minor bloating and gas. Eventually, my body got used to it, and MiraLAX stopped working. But for six years, it was painless, dependable therapy that I was grateful to have."

• Cus...
• September 10, 2013

For Constipation, Acute "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."

• Aan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2019

For Constipation "Been constipated for years and only have a bowel movement once every 4-5 days. I've been taking this for 5 days and still haven't gone. It's made me extremely bloated to the point where I look 8 months pregnant, and I usually have a pretty flat stomach. Maybe I need to try a stronger laxative, but this just doesn't seem to work for me."

• Wor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 18, 2015

For Constipation "I'm a 24-year-old that recently had back surgery. They had me on tons of medications, of course, one being a stool softener because a lot of medicine intake tends to make one constipated. Well, the stool softener that I had to take twice daily didn't work one bit. I got so bloated and had some serious stomach pains that I finally decided to try a laxative (never having tried one before, I was a little intimidated). Now, before injuring myself and having the surgery, my BMs were extremely regular: once a day. After that, I was rarely going. When I tried MiraLAX, it worked within the hour of drinking it in some ginger ale! I felt SO MUCH BETTER! It makes your stomach gurgle and gives slight cramps, but worth it in the long run!"

• dis...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• January 17, 2025

"I've used ClearLax for many years with great success. The last time I purchased it, it had a strong odor when I opened it. I have been having a lot of bloating, which I never had before. Did they change the formula? I'm going to have to stop using it and try something else."

• Joe...
• October 3, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I am a 190 lb man and took the MiraLAX/Gatorade bowel prep (Dulcolax and Gas-X, then 8 oz MiraLAX in 64 oz Gatorade, drink for 2 hours) starting at 6:00 AM following a day of liquid diet. By 9:00 AM, I had one normal bowel movement and one loose movement. I drank more water, felt bloated and nauseous, but by 10:45, I had no more bowel movements. I used a Fleet enema and stopped drinking because I was not allowed to drink any more 3 hours before my 1:00 PM colonoscopy. My colonoscopy was aborted midway due to inadequate prep. It is now 4 days later, and I still have diarrhea. I do not recommend this for a bowel prep."

• Scp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 7, 2019

For Constipation, Acute "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."

• Pau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2018

For Constipation "I have severe bloating and stomach cramps. I had an unusual incidence of severe constipation, and after it resolved, my doctor prescribed MiraLAX. After six days, I still haven't been to the bathroom except partially with an enema and have severe cramps. My whole gut is swollen and churns around like I have diarrhea, except it won't come out. I suspect it has harmed my normal gut bacteria. I will not take it again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 24, 2017

For Constipation "I have a lot to say as this stuff is great! It works all the time, anytime, lasts a very long time, and even when you cut down on the dose, once it starts working, it will always work. Must take it every day for a week or two for it to work! Never take it during the end of the day, or it will drain you literally. Take it in the morning to noon. If you do these few simple things, in my opinion, there are no pills better! Feels natural, and a little goes a long way. Most constipation pills make me feel horrible and bloated, if you're taking it as I said, you won't get any of this. I have done all three! Best product ever."

• 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."

• Sal...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 27, 2024

For Constipation "MiraLAX did make BMs softer and more regular. But after taking it nightly for about 6 months, I began to feel bloated and my belly was distended, with too much gas! I also felt stool was backing up in my colon. All very counterproductive. I decided to quit it in favor of eating simple leafy salads with lunch and dinner every day, and I now feel much better and am having even better BMs each morning."

• Ana...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 25, 2021

For Constipation "I have long-term OIC, none of the softeners worked. I started taking MiraLAX, although it produces some bloating and horrible, embarrassing gas, it makes me more regular. If I take it with hot coffee in the morning, I usually produce a bowel motion (BM) a couple of hours later. However, it seems like it causes incomplete bowel emptying, and I must go a few times a day. No cramps, no blood, but somewhat thin yet formed BMs."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 9, 2012

For Constipation "I am on my fourth day and still no bowel motion. Each time I took it at night an hour before bedtime with water, and it's amazing because there really isn't a taste at all. You would never know anything was added to the water. Just make sure you stir it so the water is pretty clear to keep it tasteless. I do have to say over the last 4 days, I haven't had any bloating or gas."

• JCa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 8, 2018

For Constipation "When it works, it is great. Unfortunately, lately it has not been working and has left me bloated and constipated. Actually, I have found that Milk of Magnesia works better for my constipation, with a bowel movement occurring in less than 6 hours."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 26, 2017

For Constipation "I started a new medication that made me extremely constipated, I could only go to the bathroom if I drank coffee. I decided to try this after not having a BM for 2 days, and it did nothing. I tried it again the next morning, and still nothing. On the 3rd day, I bought the Dulcolax pink pills and took 2 (supposed to work in 6-12 hours)... 12 hours later and still nothing. At this point, my stomach is so bloated and hurts pretty bad. I go by the store and get a glycerin suppository, and that did the trick after about 30 seconds. I think I was just so backed up that nothing was working. After the first BM (it wasn't much), all of those laxatives started kicking in and giving me horrible cramps for 30 or so minutes. Finally, emptied everything out."

• pre...
• June 6, 2021

For Constipation "It's a hit or miss with this. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, and when it does work, I barely go at all. Most of the time I take this, and hours later I get stomach cramps and bloating, but no bowel movement. I have chronic painful constipation, and nothing seems to help. The doctor recommends this to me all the time, but it just doesn't work for me."

• Gav...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 27, 2025

For Constipation "My 89-year-old mom was using Miralax for many years with no complications, but it was getting too expensive paying out of pocket for her, so after visiting her primary doctor, she prescribed 'GaviLAX' last year. Over the course of time, we couldn't figure out why she was having bad cramping and bloating until I read up on side effects! Definitely going back to Miralax!"