Hey mrsD, I've seen several posts where you've said that Miralax is under reconsideration by the FDA, but my searches here haven't turned up any links to more info. I did find this: http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/G.../UCM166481.pdf but it looks pretty old (pre-OTC status) and talks about false claims rather than any concern for safety.

I've also found many references about a recall due to faulty container caps. Do you know of any other concerns that might make me want to stop using this product (aside from the creepy sound of "polyethylene glycol", which reminds me of anti-freeze, or something awhile back about dangerous Chinese imports of something)?

Hi JoanB,
I take Miralax every evenig with a glass of cranbery juice and it really works, no longer have to take fiber mixes, its widely used by the VA. I take Methadone for pain relief and it can really bind up the system. I too am awaiting mrsD response. This is a fairly new product.

This is the list:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread105698.html

I searched around back then, for more info and most of what I found was for children.

example:
http://sideeffects101.com/drug-side-...-behaviour.htm

Since this works as an osmotic laxative-- ie. pulling water into the bowel, -- magnesium oxide would be a similar thing and more natural I would think. Phillips tablets are magnesium oxide. (a very small amount of magnesium would be absorbed, but not much).

Miralax is not recommended for anyone with reduced kidney functions.

also:
http://www.patientsville.com/medicat...de_effects.htm

I'd use as little as necessary, just to be safe.

I gave my miralax up quite a while ago...seems like drugs go in fads until there is some issue and they become less popular or get pulled.

Thanks everyone for your thoughts. It's so hard to know what's right to do. I had one doctor tell me to take Dulcolax, and then another doc says "Nonono! That will ruin your colon! You have to take Miralax instead!" I wonder what these clowns base their opinions on.

One thing's for sure: I have to take something. And the amitriptyline I've been taking makes the problem even worse. I've tried consuming 3x the recommended daily fiber, and that doesn't help at all.

I've been taking 400 mg magnesium oxide a day to see if that helps. I really don't like the Miralax...yeah, it's not supposed to have any taste or texture, but if I know it's in something, it's still squicky to me.

Should 400 mg of magnesium be enough, or should I increase the dose?

When I was on certain pain meds, my system stopped completely. Would neurontin or lyrica work better for you than amitriptyline? You don't want to mess your colon up. Mine went thru the mill when I was on major pain killers and it hasn't been the same since. I know amitrip isn't a major pain killer but in your system maybe it just plugs you up.

I have been lucky enough to get my system going again, daily, and not a day goes by that I don't appreciate the 'simple' pleasures of life.

Yeah, constipation is a definite side-effect of Amitriptyline.

Tried Neurontin alone before I tried Cymbalta. Then the Amitriptyline alone, now trying Neurontin and the Amitriptyline together. So far, nothing seems to have any effect on my pain level (burning, stabbing feet & legs).

I guess I might be ready by now to try Lyrica, which I've been avoiding because of its reputation for weight gain. But Neurontin didn't seem to make me gain weight--in fact, I was taking it and losing weight for no apparent reason, and I've learned here that it's in the same family as Lyrica. I think the Amitriptyline is trying to make me gain, but I'm fighting it with everything I've got.

At this point, if I knew for a fact that something worked but would also make me gain a huge amount, I'd still try it and be thankful for less pain.

[QUOTE=JoanB;704966]Yeah, constipation is a definite side-effect of Amitriptyline.



Tried Neurontin alone before I tried Cymbalta. Then the Amitriptyline alone, now trying Neurontin and the Amitriptyline together. So far, nothing seems to have any effect on my pain level (burning, stabbing feet & legs).

I guess I might be ready by now to try Lyrica, which I've been avoiding because of its reputation for weight gain. But Neurontin didn't seem to make me gain weight--in fact, I was taking it and losing weight for no apparent reason, and I've learned here that it's in the same family as Lyrica. I think the Amitriptyline is trying to make me gain, but I'm fighting it with everything I've got.


I know this doesn't sound to tasty, but I have heard warming prune juice and adding some butter to it does the trick!

I take 1200 mg. Gabapentin, 60 mg. Cymbalta, do not have constipation. Pain is about 60-70% less, but abnormal sensations are not touched by these drugs. I have had some weight gain, but not positive it is due to Gabapentin, I have been indulging a bit since all this started, trying to drown the symptoms with chocolate.

I find the more I physically move around, the less I notice the sensations, etc., if I am still they are much more noticeable and when I notice them, I immediately get mentally disturbed, I am trying to work on that reaction and accept it as my "new normal."

Also, an odd thing is, when I sleep they are gone, I am a light sleeper, I know I would awaken if they were present. My pain/sensations stay constant through the day, do not worsen at night as some neuropathies do.

I use the duragesic patch for my pain and constipation is a side effect. I've used lots of things with varying results - from no help to diarrhea and neither of these are satisfactory. So, discussed it again with my doc a couple of weeks or so ago and she said for me to try Miralax. I used a capful and after a couple of days I had a bowel movement which was fairly normal. But now I am back to no help or diarrhea again, so, I am experimenting with it trying to find the dosage that's just right ... sure not holding my breath.

One thing is for sure - I am NOT gonna give up using my patch because it really really controls my pain like nothing else I've tried...and I've tried everything during my 22 years with this PN crud.

If anyone has a absolute remedy for constipation caused by using a opiate for pain, please let me know. Many many many thanks!!!

Hey Dan,
Hope your all healed up, Miralex is the best I have tried, if no movement after 3 days take a belt of MOM. When I was having dry hard stools I used some mineral oil in a warm water enema.
Lanny