Is MiraLAX Safe for Children?

In the small print on the side of a bottle of MiraLAX, you’ll learn that it’s recommended by the manufacturer only for people 17 years of age and older and that it should be used for no more than 7 days at a time. But MiraLAX is given to many young children daily for months at a time – sometimes even for years. MiraLAX and similar medications are laxatives and stool softeners using polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 as the active ingredient. These medicines are very widely used, work well, and are well tolerated by most children – so much so that the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatitis, and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) includes the long-term use of PEG-3350 products in its guidelines for managing pediatric constipation. A recent pooled analysis of 18 randomized controlled studies suggests that PEG-3350 works better for childhood constipation than some other common medications and based on available evidence appears as safe as other medications. But PEG-3350 has not been approved by the FDA for use in young children or for use by anyone for more than 7 days. The New York Times reported in early 2015 that the Food and Drug Administration has raised concerns about the use of PEG-3350 in kids, especially over the long-term: We know that only minimal PEG-3350 is absorbed into the body of adults taking the medicine, but very little is known about absorption in young kids – especially those with chronic constipation or intestinal diseases. PEG-3350 is a...
Source: Conversations with Dr Greene - Category: Child Development Authors: Tags: Dr. Greene's Blog Babies & Constipation Stool & Constipation Source Type: blogs