Thanks To A Fast-Growing Group Of Experts And Parents Who Are Speaking Up And Shedding Light On The Possible Dangers Of Children Under 16 Using MiraLax (Or any off-brand version of it).
Here are 3 Eye-Opening Reasons Children 16 And Under Should NOT Take The So-Called “Healthy” Laxative.
Being a parent of a child who regularly struggles with constipation is exhausting.
Even more so for the child going through it.
No parent wants to see their child wincing in pain from having their stomach tied up in knots and painfully bloated.
Or curled up in a ball trying to find a position that gives them a little relief.
Not to mention, the sleepless nights, mood swings and painful trips to the bathroom for the child.
Normally, parents will reach for different types of food, juices, and at-home remedies in search of something to ease the pain.
When nothing seems to work,
The natural step to take is to schedule an appointment with a doctor where the child typically gets prescribed a drug called “Miralax” (polyethylene glycol 3350) – or an off-brand version of it.
Although it may give the child quick relief from their pain and constipation…
I’m not sure parents would be as excited about that relief if they knew what else Miralax might be doing to their child.
Especially considering the fact that there’s a much safer and longer-lasting alternative (more on that in just a minute).
Now, just to be clear.
THIS IS NOT AN ATTACK ON DOCTORS.
They’re doing the very best they can with the tools and information they have.
The simple fact is,
The majority of them are not fully aware of what I’m about to share with you…YET.
If they did, I’m doubtful they would prescribe it to their 16 and under patients.
Here’s why…
3 Reasons children 16 and under should NOT take MiraLax (or any off-brand version of the drug)…
Reason #1: Potentially Negative (And Permanent) Side Effects That Damage Speech And Behavior – As Well As Spikes In Anxiety And Depression.
There’s been a growing number of parents coming forward with disturbing reports of their children experiencing a variety of neuropsychiatric issues after taking MiraLax (and similar off-brand versions of the drug)
In fact,
According to Pharmacist.com
“The FDA has now stepped in and involved themselves in the matter after filing reports of their own; showing 167 different cases of children experiencing adverse effects after taking the drug.”
Thanks to those reports surfacing, the FDA has awarded The Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia $325,000.00 to conduct an official study to get to the bottom of it.
But it wasn’t just the reports that moved the FDA to take action.
It was the pressure being applied by thousands of parents complaining about the issue.
Parents like Jeanie Ward,
Who, according to Parents.com and CBS Action News, “gave her 3-and-a-half-year-old daughter Nicole [MiraLax] on the advice of a doctor, and within 10 days, Nicole’s personality had changed drastically.”
Jeanie described the side-effects as “Near psychiatric events with paranoia, mood swings, aggression, rage…It was horrifying to see my daughter change like that and to not completely go back to normal.”
She’s not the only parent who has come forward with reports of similar symptoms.
There’s several more.
And they seem to be growing in number.
I don’t know about you?
But those are NOT symptoms I’m willing to trade for constipation relief.
Reason #2 – Miralax And Antifreeze Are Like 1st Cousins
The active ingredient (PEG 3350) in MiraLax, and it’s off-brand counterparts, contains the same toxic compound (ethylene glycol) found in Antifreeze.
And just to be clear,
“Active Ingredient” means it’s the main ingredient that makes the drug work.
In other words, if you remove PEG 3350 and Ethylene Glycol from MiraLax, it’s no longer “MiraLax”, it’s just fluid sitting in a bottle.
So, this isn’t a case of people grasping at straws to link a meaningless trace amount of a toxic ingredient to a drug.
It’s much more direct and impactful than that.
Reason #3 – MiraLax Doesn’t Even Recommend It.
As if the reports on the spikes in anxiety, depression, and behavioral issues weren’t enough to make you think twice about giving your child MiraLax.
Or the fact MiraLax and Antifreeze are 1st cousins…
What about this?
MiraLax doesn’t even recommend it.
It only gives instructions on dosages and how to use it for people 17 or older.
But what about the 16 and under crowd?
That’s a pretty wide range of ages there, no?
Here’s their official opinion, “Ask A Doctor”.
Which, to some, might sound like, “I don’t want to be held liable, but I want to sell as many bottles as I can.”
When you consider the fact that the drug was created specifically for constipation – and the majority of people who suffer from constipation are kids…it’s easy to see why people might feel that way.
Now,
Clearly not everyone is going to come to the same conclusion.
But many do.
And I don’t think you need to be wearing a tin-hat to at least see it as a little strange that the professionals who created the drug, don’t have an opinion on the appropriateness of it with such a wide range of ages.
What If We Have All Been Looking At Constipation Relief The Wrong Way?
Listen,
There’s a lot to unpack with MiraLax, and enough questions and concerns to make any parent feel unsure about the safest way to handle their child’s constipation.
And I’ll let the FDA and The Children’s Hospital Of Philadelphia have the final say on the dangers of it.
But here’s what I do know about the safest and most effective way to treat constipation.
PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING IN THE FIRST PLACE.
It’s important to note that MiraLax is NOT a solution to the problem, it’s just a bandaid for the symptoms.
In other words,
The sleepless nights, stomach cramps and severe pain is NOT the problem.
Neither is being constipated.
The real problem is “the thing” causing constipation.
If you solve that, there’s no need to even worry about Laxatives like MiraLax.
Right?
Think of it like this,
If your kitchen caught on fire and the smoke alarms were blaring…
Would you dump water on the alarm?
Or on the fire?
Sure, the sound of the alarm is loud and obnoxious, but it’s NOT the problem.
It’s just alerting you to the real problem…which is the fire.
The same is true with your child and constipation.
Somewhere there’s a fire.
Which is almost always related to their gut and inflammation.
The constipation is just the alarm.
And when you rely on MiraLax to quiet the ear-piercing noise of the alarm, you end up ignoring the real problem…and the fire spreads.
“Ok, I get it…so what can I do for my child’s Constipation?”
There are 3 critical steps you must take.
(I’ll tell you what they are and how to accomplish them with a simple 30-second routine every morning)
1- Heal and repair the gut.
Chronic constipation is the result of an unhealthy gut and an inefficient digestive system. Which, happens when there is an UNHEALTHY balance of Intestinal Flora (this is what breaks down food in the digestive track).
Reintroducing healthy flora and flushing out the “bad” flora will heal and repair the gut.
2- Strengthen the gut-lining.
The toxins in the food we eat attack the gut-lining, causing it to become frail and weak. Which, in turn, disrupts the digestion process.
Strengthening it will block the toxins and protect the digestive system.
(Think of this like strengthening the digestive system’s armor)
3- Reintroduce beneficial bacteria (flora) to the gut.
This will help break food down faster and digest it more efficiently.
“How do I do all of that?”
There are two options (the 2nd one is the easiest):
Option #1: You can give your child the following 4 gut-health supplements.
The combination of these 4 supplements are proven to provide substantial relief from constipation by healing, repairing and strengthening the digestive system.
1- PRObiotics
2- PREbiotics
3- Gut Lining Support
4- Digestive Enzymes
You can certainly buy all 4 supplements separately.
Personally, I’m a big fan of TriEnza as an option for a digestive enzyme.
But it can be both expensive and difficult to get your child to swallow 4 different supplements every morning.
That’s why it might make sense for you to try Option #2:
Simply give your child one scoop of Bio-Heal every morning with their breakfast.
(it only takes 30 seconds)
“What Is Bio-Heal?”
Bio-Heal is a Powerful Probiotic Formula for kids – and it contains a potent blend of all 4 essential gut-health supplements in one serving.
Originally, Bio-Heal was created and engineered to provide gut-health support for children with autism.
Kids with autism are known to suffer from some of the most severe cases of constipation and unhealthy digestive systems.
–>So the formula had to be strong enough to provide them relief while strengthening their gut-lining — yet delicate enough for their sensitive stomachs.
Kids with Autism also have extremely sensitive taste-buds and can be triggered by even the slightest hint of a flavor (or texture) they don’t like…
–>So they had to create an easy-to-mix and flavorless powder they would actually take without putting up a fight.
“What are other parents saying about it?”
With over 1,000+ 5-star reviews (4.6 stars overall)
And testimonials like these…
Janice says…
“My granddaughter Faith is 5 and on the spectrum. She is non verbal and has developmental delays and can only walk with a walker. We have had Faith on these probiotics for about 2 months and the improvements we are experiencing are nothing short of a miracle!! She has several new words that she is saying unprompted. She is repeating words like a little parrot and has begun walking independently without the use of her walker. She no longer requires miralax to keep her somewhat regular. She has been on miralax since she was about 2 and now she’s going on her own. I can’t say enough good things about this product!! We are simply amazed and looking forward to more life changing improvements in the days to come. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
Camie says…
“My daughter has had severe constipation for almost 2 years and even struggled with rectal prolapse due to her constant straining. In addition to a restricted diet which included dairy-free and gluten-free foods, she’s been on Dulcolax and Miralax daily just to keep things under control. However, after taking All-Star Nutrition daily for only one week, my daughter is already off of her constipation medications. She has now been taking All-Star Nutrition for about 3 weeks and is doing great in the bathroom!!! Amazing!“
Regan says…
“My son has Autism, Sensory Processing Disorder, as well as a couple other irrelevant disorders. He doesn’t eat well. He eats a lot, but few good foods. Before trying my all star nutrition probiotics, my child hadn’t had a bowel movement in 11 days. We had tried suppositories, stool softeners, Miralax, and even a colonoscopy prep. Nothing gave him any relief. Finally, I took him to the ER where x-rays were done. They showed that he was completely impacted from start to finish. I asked one of my sons specialists what she thought of the ingredients in the All Star Nutrition probiotics. She was impressed and said she would be ordering it for herself. So….I ordered it. Not expecting much, but I gave in and ordered it. Within 2 weeks, my son was having several bowel movements almost daily! I am happy to report, without changing his diet at all and adding the probiotic, he has had at least one normal BM every day for more than a month!”
It’s easy to see why Bio-Heal has quickly become the favorite go-to-supplement parents are choosing to improve their kids digestive health.
Feel free to try a Bottle HERE
Who knows? You and your child might experience the same results as the parents above.
Best Wishes,
The HealthLine Updates Team.
Resources Used In Creating This Article:
https://www.squattypotty.com/blog/restoring-intestinal-flora-leads-to-a-healthy-gut-and-happy-poop/
https://www.pharmacist.com/article/parents-say-otc-medicine-sickening-kids