MiraLAX and Pain: What Users Say

• Lea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2020

For Constipation "I just had to share in case anyone else was going through the same thing. I’ve been having major issues with hemorrhoids, fissures, and honestly who knows what else. I could only go every 3-4 days and it would be so painful. I would panic before I went. I would be in extreme pain for up to 8 hours after each BM. I was afraid of living. After an extremely painful BM, one I almost couldn’t pass myself, I decided to try MiraLAX. I had already changed my diet, upped my fiber, drank excessive amounts of water. 3 days after taking this, and 3 days after my last very painful BM, I went. And it was soft, quick, and only a little painful (a 1 or 2 on a pain scale instead of a usual 8-10). I cried, from happiness. I didn’t think I could ever not be in extreme pain and fear. If you are suffering in silence, please give this a try. It takes time to work. I take a full cap every day. Might need to adjust to be more regular but we’ll see. But also make sure you see a doctor"

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 24, 2012

For Constipation "MiraLAX is great. The first day was the only time I experienced any side effects, and that was only a headache. After that, I've been taking it every day at night in a glass of water. It doesn't taste like anything and dissolves quickly. Works great, too. I've always had constipation, but recently I was having constant pain and bleeding with every bowel movement due to a fissure, it was horrible. But now that my doctor recommended MiraLAX to me, I finally feel normal in that department!"

• Sho...
• September 20, 2016

For Constipation "I've had chronic constipation since I was four. It was so bad that I literally had to see a 'poop doctor' until I was about seven. I started using MiraLAX whenever I was constipated at that point, and never once has it failed me. I once had a two-week period of constipation, my worst period of time ever, so I began taking one capful twice a day. Two days later, I produced two toiletfuls of stool. It ached a bit afterwards, but the process was very, VERY quick, and you could NOT believe how relieved and relaxed I felt afterwards. I'm in my late teen years now, and I still take it whenever I haven't gone for at least three to four days. It usually takes a day or two to work, but it's completely worth it."

• Nic...
• August 30, 2016

For Constipation "Just been on this for 2 days. Don't know if I'm gonna go, but one cap = 1000 facts!! If this can make me go without the pain I experienced with Ex-Lax, I'm all in :) Took Ex-Lax a week ago, and 12 hrs later, every inch of my body was sweating from my eyebrows to my knuckles. I didn't know knuckles could sweat. After an hour of extreme pain and making baby Jesus all kinds of promises, I finally went. I started the MiraLAX the next day, and I have not gone, but I'm sure it's coming.... The problem with the gassy side effect is I work with one other person in an office. Who do you blame it on?"

• lov...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2016

For Constipation "If you're constipated, it can take a couple of days, maybe even a week, it all depends. Keep taking it till you get a bowel movement and keep taking it if you're someone who deals with constant constipation for whatever reason. I was on opiates for 10 years, unfortunately, but some people need them. If you need them for lifelong pain, then you better never plan on getting off them, 'cause you'll experience the worst thing in your life physically and mentally. Even when you're clean, you forever deal with severe depression, anxiety, along with body pain. I ended up having to get on methadone 'cause I couldn't handle being off opiates, so that also gets me constipated, but I use this 1 cap a day and haven't been blocked up since! Stool softeners don't work, only MiraLAX."

• The...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 16, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I have always used MiraLAX, plain with water, I just drink and get it over with. The Dulcolax tabs work too, so I don't ever have problems, but the magnesium citrate 6 hours before the procedure, for me, is the worst. That 10 ounces of bitter saltwater taste takes forever to finish - I'm already clean and still have to drink it. I tried MoviPrep, and the pain, stomach cramps were awful. But with colon cancer years ago, I'm grateful each time the colonoscopy is fine, and a little night of MiraLAX is nothing."

• CBa...
• May 26, 2016

For Constipation "I was lulled into a false sense about this drug by my doctor and reviews, which said it would work over several days and help me have a natural bowel movement. This is not my current experience. I haven't had a real bowel movement in 9 days, which is the first time in my life this has happened. I have some health issues and have been eating 400-600 calories per day. I took the MiraLAX at 7 PM, assuming nothing would happen for a few days. At 9:15, abdominal pain, cramping, running to the bathroom. Sweating bullets through my clothes and feeling incredibly nauseous, it took a while, but it started working. Almost 2 hours later, I am hoping the worst is over. It was effective because it is working, but be aware it CAN work fast and feel terrible."

• 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."

• Eas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I used this for my first colonoscopy prep this past week. I was so happy with the experience after hearing horror stories. I followed a low-residue diet for four days, then a clear liquid day. Mixing the Miralax in Gatorade was tasteless and very easy to drink. I was able to do a split prep, so even the volume I had to drink was tolerable. I had no cramping, no pain, no nausea. My doctor rated my prep as “excellent.” Would highly recommend this prep approach."

• Zzv...
• March 1, 2016

For Constipation "It actually works really well for me. Especially when I was an opiates user and didn't take any laxatives, my stools were so hard and big that I would resist going as long as I could because I was so afraid of the pain. On average, I wouldn't go for 2 to 3 weeks, and there was once I didn't go for 2 months and had to go to the ER. I'm now taking a medicine to get off opiates called methadone, and my bowel movements aren't nearly as painful but still give me problems. After taking MiraLAX, my bowel motions would come out with absolutely no pain, but if you don't do it every day, it will keep happening."

• jak...
• June 15, 2018

For Constipation "Not long after a colonoscopy, my movements seemed off. I thought it was no biggie-until things basically shut down. I never knew that constipation could be so tough, depressing, and scary. It was like my body was rebelling and not obeying orders. Got a box of MiraLAX packets and took my first daily dose around 6 PM, hoping that it would work and not take three days. Within a few hours, it seemed like something was happening. There was some gurgling and expelled gas. Normally, that might be bad, but under the circumstances, it was a hopeful sign. Around 1 AM, I finally went, and it was painful and not fun-but what a relief! I've had two more movements since then (it's the next day), and each one has been easier than the last. So just one dose and seemingly back to normal! I can't imagine what a chronic case of this must be like.... I almost feel guilty that my cure went so well. Anyway, there's no bad taste to it, and I'm glad it worked. Worth a try, I think."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2015

For Constipation "I had MiraLAX after a surgery last week. I took it once daily, it didn't produce a bowel movement for 6 days, but when it did, the stool was soft and came out without straining, which is good because I had open-heart surgery. I will continue to take it until I am off of the pain medication, which last time I was on it caused a horrendously painful softball-sized poop."

• Nur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 5, 2012

For Constipation "Just had a hysterectomy last Wednesday. I have been having 'very little,' if at all, bowel motions. I woke up this morning in excruciating abdominal pain. I took 2 doses in orange juice, and I produced my first bowel motion in 1 hour! Wow! More fiber, water, ambulation, and MiraLAX should keep me regular."

• Mir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2023

For Constipation, Acute "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!"

• Cha...
• July 22, 2021

For Constipation "I had an anal fistula surgery. During the recovery process, my bowel movements were so, so painful- I mean screaming pain every time I passed one. Several months later, the doctor said I developed a very deep anal fissure, in which he suggested another surgery. My dad suggested I take MiraLAX for a few weeks and see what happened. It ended up taking 3 months, combined with Pranicura, which you can buy online. Works very well. (Make sure you apply to the inner rim of the anal canal. Don’t apply internally.) I am like 90% recovered and this is almost 9 months after the first surgery. Surgery was October 27, 2020. Started MiraLAX in February 2021. And let me tell you, one scoop a day after breakfast keeps it daily or bi-daily. Tons of water, tons of fiber. Solid gentle stools. Trust the process and give it a few months. Your butthole is the hardest part to heal. Don’t give up. Like I said, 3-4 months of daily use in combination with Pranicura applied internally."

• Ban...
• August 3, 2021

For Constipation "At first, whenever I would take it, it would kick in in about 2-3 days. However, whenever I seem to take it now, it makes me feel like I have to poop, but nothing comes out. I’ll be sitting on the toilet for hours, feeling like I have to poop and being in excruciating pain, and nothing will come out. It’s absolutely awful. This is what is happening to me right now. I had to take 650 mg of acetaminophen and a pill my doctor prescribed me for abdominal pain just to make the discomfort more manageable-and it’s still so hard on my insides. It’s been two days now, and the pain has only gotten worse. It’s always a mixed bag, sometimes I’ll take it and I’ll feel great! More often than not, though, I’ll take it and either nothing happens or I’m in pain. For reference, I weigh 145 pounds (small and pretty slim stature), and I’m a 5’4” female."

• 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."