Seizures while on Miralax Reported
Adults and children have reported seizures while on Miralax.
Adults and children have reported that they developed seizures while on Miralax. Seizures associated with Miralax use have been reported to the FDA in both children and adults.
Miralax Side Effects
Miralax/PEG 3350 has had over 25,000 reports of adverse events reported to the FDA. Commonly reported side effects include Rage, Aggression, OCD, ADD, Tics, Seizures, Panic Attacks, Kidney problems, Autism-like behaviors, ODD, Night Terrors, Learning Delays, Mouth Sores, Lack of Growth, Hallucinations, Speech Issues, numbness, C-Diff, homicidal and suicidal ideation.
(Update, as of September 2020 there are now over 36,000 reports of adverse events from PEG 3350 laxatives to the FDA. For more information, watch this video:
My son had serious side effects from Miralax including tics, anxiety, night terrors and panic attacks. Thankfully, he didn’t suffer from Miralax induced seizures but some of my readers have reported that either they had seizures while on Miralax or their child did. If you are interested in reading my son’s story and the story of many other children who had side effects from Miralax, please read my article Is Miralax Safe for My Child?
Often seizures are reported after using Miralax or Golyghtly for a constipation cleanout or for colonoscopy prep. Sometimes seizures begin after prolonged use of a PEG product.
Miralax Seizure Stories
Seizures in Adults who used Miralax
Libby Ann Higbee shares “I used Miralax over two periods of time in my life. The first for a clean-out and the second after surgery, off-and-on for about a year. I now know my issues are directly related to Miralax use as a result of what my son has been through. He saved me in so many ways.”
“In 2005, I had to use Miralax for a clean-out for colonoscopy following the hurricanes in ’06. We had to live out of coolers for over a month and many became ill as I did. We did a colonoscopy to get to the bottom of the digestive issues I was having. After the clean-out, my gallbladder completely stopped working and I needed an emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy the day after my 34th birthday. 19 days later I had a stroke that changed my life forever. I couldn’t walk or talk and spoke complete stuttering-gibberish for months thereafter. I have made a miraculous recovery considering. I had an area of void in my left Sylvian fissure which remains to this day.” says Libby Ann.
“I suffered from daily chronic migraines for years and for the first several months couldn’t even lift my head from the bed. I had amnesia. I remember waking one morning to my second oldest in the bed but didn’t recognize him or my surroundings. I remember waking him. ‘Little boy, little boy…where is your mom or dad?’ He said, ‘Mom, you’re really scaring me.’ I just remember being so confused, searching my brain for any hint of a memory of the evening before to tell me where I might be or who this poor little boy was who thought I was his mom. He said, “I’m calling grandma.” I said, “Good idea, an adult, she might be able to help.” He gave me the phone and my mother, in a very stern voice said, “Libby Ann, this is Mom, I’m coming right over.” Her voice in that tone snapped me out of it. My son and I just cried.” Libby shared.
Libby said “There were so many occasions like that over the next year and it was a painful journey. Never knew anything about Miralax at the time, just tried to survive. Then in 2014, I had botched neck surgery, ACDF at C4-6. Horrible recovery, opiates as well as many other medications. Constipation occurred and I reached for the trusty Miralax my son had used since 3 or 4. Of course, it worked like a charm for my constipation but my mental health deteriorated thereafter. In 2016 I had 6 Tonic/Clonic seizures in one day with a horrible postictal phase. For a first seizure experience, it scared the heck out of everyone. I have had Tonic/Clonic seizures ever since and recently my doctor and I discussed a new diagnosis…early onset dementia. I have spoken with other older individuals and parents who have children that have been diagnosed with dementia after Miralax use. Yes, children.”
“Once the Miralax was gone those symptoms lessened and many other symptoms resolved completely.”
Seizures in Children on Miralax
Another parent shared her daughter’s story, “My daughter had been constipated for years and was put on Miralax. While on Miralax, she started to have seizures. When my daughter was first diagnosed with epilepsy, her first anti-seizure medication was Trileptal. The Trileptal seemed to cause additional seizures. Our neurologist was totally perplexed. Later on, as we pieced together that the Miralax was causing the seizures and we learned about polyethylene glycol, the only ingredient in Miralax, we looked back on medications and found that it was in the Trileptal.”
“None of the anti-seizure medications controlled her seizures. 95% of serotonin is produced in the GI tract and if Miralax is flushing that down the toilet, it’s just a matter of time before we have neurological and neurotransmitter issues.”
“My daughter’s constipation continued and her gastro sent us to the hospital do a clean out. We begged for something other than Miralax but the doctor refused. They said that Miralax wasn’t causing the seizures and that the cleanout was safe. We ended up giving our daughter 8 capfuls of Miralax in Gatorade. The Miralax induced another round of seizures. We were then convinced there was a correlation between the Miralax and the seizures.”
“As my daughter’s constipation worsened, we were admitted into the hospital for a couple of days for a clean out. We made it clear we did not want Miralax used on our child. They wanted to use Golytely as it is what they used in the hospital for cleanouts. We did not know that Golytely has the same active ingredient as Miralax, PEG 3350. Over the next few weeks my daughter had over 20 seizures, the most she had ever had in that amount of time It took us months to undo the damage and heal her gut. .But just getting her off of Miralax/PEG3350 made a huge improvement in her seizures.”
Another parent shared “My daughter used Miralax per her Drs orders for about a year & a half from age 14 to 16. She also had 2 golytley hospital cleanouts during that time. Shortly after the 2nd golytley cleanout, she had a grand mal seizure. That was a little over a year ago & we immediately stopped Miralax but she continues to have had about 10 more seizures since then. In addition to thyroid issues, failure to thrive, extreme weight loss, absorption issues, sleep problems & OCD. None of which she had before Miralax.”
While not diagnosed with seizures, another parent shared their experience on their child on Miralax. “Our two year old daughter developed shudder attacks after being on Miralax for a year for constipation. Doc thought it might be seizures but they only lasted about 10 seconds and she was not tired after. However, there would be up to 4-5 in a row and several times a day. We took her off Miralax and put her on Pedialax magnesium and the shudder attacks disappeared within a month.”
Does Miralax Cause Side Effects in Everyone?
Many children and adults are on Miralax and do not experience seizures or other side effects. I believe that there are things that make people more prone to seizures or Miralax injury. Many of the children who had adverse events from Miralax use had underlying health issues, MTHFR, COMT or other gene mutations that make it difficult for them to detox, or they had leaky gut from Celiac disease, antibiotic use or developed it from the Miralax. Other things that can lower the seizure threshold are diet, not enough sleep, medication, and stress.
If you or your child developed seizures while on Miralax, or another PEG product, please report the seizures to the FDA.
What to do if you have had seizures while on Miralax
If you are dealing with seizures and are taking Miralax, please discontinue using it immediately. I have many articles that will talk you through the steps to get off of Miralax and how to heal the damage done. A good place to start is my article 30+ Alternatives to Miralax and my article How to Heal the Gut from Chronic Constipation
Libby Ann shares what worked for her and her son. “Yes, there’s hope. you got to find the right type of elemental magnesium that works for you. For me it’s magnesium citrate for my son is magnesium aspartate. There are so many you’re going to need to just start trying one by one. Just remember if you’re not getting a response you just need to increase the dose until you do. Your body will hold on to what it needs and dump the rest. when you reach your maximum point of concentration, your body will simply dump it in the form of diarrhea. That’s where you to need to get to that place where you find your boundary between a healthy bowel movement and diarrhea. Everyone is different in their magnesium deficiency. For some it takes a little for others it takes several times the recommended daily dose. I would suggest you start with Wendy’s guide and with the mag citrate. I myself live by Wendy’s guides.” shared Libby Ann.
“If you max out on that and it’s not working or you have problems with it switch over to the magnesium aspartate or malate. You need a really good probiotic. Eventually you won’t need a probiotic once your diet’s right but for now, you’ll need to get one. There are so many available nowadays. You’re just going to have to do many things not one thing. But you’re right it’s overwhelming and you will shut down. I know I did many times in the beginning. Be patient with yourself most of all. This is a journey, not an overnight fix.”
Libby says “I also suggest doing an elimination diet. Take it all the way back to a clear liquid diet while you’re trying to do the cleanout. Once you’re cleaned, out you can slowly start adding things in. Stay away from wheat and dairy especially for now. You need to check all your medications to see if any of them cause constipation. You would be surprised how many of them do. If you find one that does you need to call your doctor straight away and get it swapped out if possible.”
I also recommend finding an Integrative or Functional Medicine doctor to help you on this journey. My article How to Find a Doctor Who Will Help You Find the Root Cause of Your Constipation has resources to help you.
Please join my Facebook groups People Against Miralax or Natural Constipation Solutions for more information on how to treat constipation and for support on your journey.
Disclaimers
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*DISCLAIMER, I AM NOT A DOCTOR OR MEDICAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL. ALL IDEAS DISCUSSED AND DESCRIBED IN THIS POST ARE MY OWN AND ARE NOT MEANT TO TREAT OR DIAGNOSE. IF YOU HAVE A MEDICAL CONDITION PLEASE SPEAK WITH YOUR DOCTOR.
