Why you Can’t Take MiraLax 3 Times a Day (and What to Do Instead).

Can you take MiraLax 3 times a day?

Taking Miralax 3 times a day for several days is not recommended. The recommended dose by the manufacturer is 17 grams of powder in 4–8 ounces of water Once daily. Taking MiraLax 3 times a day may not provide additional benefits and may cause side effects.

Doubling the recommended dose (34 g instead of 17 g) once daily was used before in clinical trials. However, taking the 34 g dose for several days was associated with increased side effects (reference).

However, Your doctor may prescribe MiraLax for Bowel Preparation in higher doses (up to 100 grams daily).

The dose of MiraLax Bowel preparation is 17 g of Miralax in 8 ounces of water EVERY 10 MINUTES until 2 liters of fluid is consumed (reference).

But you cannot use the bowel preparation dose to relieve constipation. If used without medical supervision, such a dose may lead to serious side effects.

MiraLax is classified as an osmotic laxative. Osmotic laxatives can cause severe disturbances in your body’s micro-elements (such as sodium, potassium, and calcium).

These side effects are more likely to occur if you overdose on MiraLax (such as three times a day) for several days.

The potential drawbacks of taking MiraLax 3 times a day for several days are discussed in the section below.

Potential drawbacks of taking MiraLax 3 times a day?

1- Diarrhea.

Diarrhea is common after Miralax overdosing (such as taking it three times daily). The incidence of diarrhea with MiraLax is up to 11%  with the normal dose of 17 g (reference). And, of course, diarrhea is much greater if you take MiraLax 3 times a day.

2- Bloating and Flatulence.

Bloating and gas (flatulence) are also frequent (incidence is about 7% with the usual dose).

As diarrhea, taking an overdose of MiraLax (3 times daily for several days) will lead to more bloating and gas.

Related: MirLax not working after three days: 5 causes.

3- Nausea and vomiting.

Taking MiraLax 3 or more times a day may induce frequent nausea. In severe cases, vomiting directly after you take MiraLax can happen.

4- Other Gut-related side effects

Other side effects of frequent MiraLax use include abdominal pain (cramps), continuous comfort in your belly, eructation, and dyspepsia (reference).

5- Dehydration.

MiraLax is an osmotic laxative. Osmotic laxatives prevent the absorption of fluid inside your intestines. MiraLax can also draw fluid from your body into your intestine to produce laxative effects (reference).

Dehydration can leave you with multiple symptoms such as Fatigue, dizziness, extreme thirst, less frequent urination, and confusion.

Learn more about the effects of dehydration on your body HERE.

6- Electrolyte disturbances.

Frequent diarrhea induced by MiraLax overdose may cause loss of your body’s electrolytes.

Loss of Potassium, calcium, sodium, and others may result in multi-system symptoms and complications.

To learn more about the effects of electrolyte disturbances. Check the effects of Hypokalemia, Hyponatremia, and Hypocalcemia.

So, don’t use MiraLax 3 times a day for long periods without medical permission from your doctor.

Ask your doctor if you want to occasionally take MiraLax 3 times daily to relieve constipation (only for one day).

Related: How long does MiraLax stay in your systems?

What to do instead to treat severe constipation?

1- Fix your False Believes about Constipation.

• Daily bowel movements are not necessary. Every two to three days, a single bowel movement is considered normal as long as the stool is not very hard.
• Dependency on laxatives to produce daily bowel movements can do more harm than good.
• An unnecessary increase in the dose of MiraLax to three or more times a day can lead to side effects and dependency on it.
• Laxative abuse can lead to Bowel hypomotility (your colon completely depends on laxatives to produce bowel movements).

So, Increasing MiraLax 3 times a day may not be the best decision. No need to increase the dose of MiraLax if you have a bowel movement every two or three days.

2- Revisit your lifestyle (diet, exercise).

• Increase the total amount of fluid you take.
• Shift from low fiber diet (such as meat) into high fiber diets such as Fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
• Being physically active and sedentary is a major risk factor for severe constipation.
• Train your bowel, by trial, to defecate soon after meals. This is the best time, as colon motility is stimulated after food reaches your digestive tract (gastro-colic reflex).

3- Use effective home remedies for constipation.

• Drink More coffee: coffee is a powerful stimulant of your digestive system motility (reference).
• Eat or drink the juice of Prunes: it is evidenced to improve the frequency of bowel movements and softens your poop.
• Use bulk-forming fiber laxatives such as senna and Psyllium (Metamucil).

Related: MirLax not working after three days: 5 causes.

4- Check your list of medications.

You may be taking other chronic medications (such as hypertension and diabetes medications). This is common in older people.

It is not uncommon for medications to cause resistant constipation. Too many drugs can lead to such conditions such as:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen (Advil) and Diclofenac.
• Tricyclic anti-depressants (used in psychological diseases and irritable bowel syndrome).
• Urinary incontinence medications (anticholinergic drugs)
• Some anti-hypertensive medications (such as high-dose calcium channel blockers).
• For others, the complete list is HERE.

5- Ask your doctor about alternatives.

If the above measures fail, your doctor must re-evaluate your constipation and prescribe stronger alternatives. Don’t abuse medications without medical supervision. Even OTC medications such as MiraLax can cause adverse effects if misused.

Related: The dose of Miralax for severe constipation.

Related: Does Miralax work for stool impaction?