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Polyethylene Glycol Brand Names
GaviLax | GIALAX | GlycoLax | Healthylax | MiraLax | Visine Dry Eye Relief | Vita Health
What is Polyethylene Glycol
Polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350) without electrolytes is an osmotic laxative used to treat constipation.
Polyethylene glycols exhibit practically no systemic absorption from the intestine at molecular masses exceeding 3000. PEG 3350 without electrolytes is a gritless and tasteless preparation that draws water into the stool for ease of bowel movements.
PEG 3350 single-ingredient products are approved as an over-the-counter (OTC) treatment of occasional constipation in adult and pediatric patients 17 years of age and older and has been used off-label in infants and children less than 17 years of age under the direct advice of a medical provider.
PEG 3350 is also used to treat fecal impaction or chronic constipation.
In several high-quality, placebo-controlled trials, PEG 3350 products consistently improve stool frequency and consistency even with long-term use. PEG 3350 also exhibits a side effect profile similar to placebo in most patient populations with use as directed, making it a preferred agent to treat constipation in both pediatric and adult patients.
PEG 3350 can be a useful adjunct for constipation due to opiate analgesics; in adults, the American Gastroenterology Association (AGA) recommends the daily use of an osmotic laxative in combination with a stimulant laxative at least 2 to 3 times per week as first-line therapy in patients with opioid-induced constipation (OIC).
In May, 2019 the FDA determined that there is no meaningful difference between single-ingredient prescription-only PEG 3350 and OTC PEG 3350 products; patients requiring single-ingredient PEG 3350 may be encouraged to purchase either MiraLax or generic PEG 3350 products over the counter, without a prescription.
Indications
- bowel preparation
- constipation
- fecal impaction
For the treatment of constipation
Side Effects
- abdominal pain
- anaphylactoid reactions
- diarrhea
- fecal incontinence
- fecal urgency
- flatulence
- nausea
- pruritus
- rhinorrhea
- urticaria
Monitoring Parameters
- laboratory monitoring not necessary
Contraindications
- abdominal pain
- acute abdomen
- breast-feeding
- dementia
- diarrhea
- dysphagia
- esophageal stricture
- gag reflex depression
- geriatric
- GI bleeding
- GI obstruction
- GI perforation
- ileus
- neonates
- pregnancy
- renal disease
- toxic megacolon
- vomiting
Interactions
- Acetaminophen; Hydrocodone
- Atropine; Difenoxin
- Atropine; Diphenoxylate
- Bisacodyl
- Brompheniramine; Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone
- Brompheniramine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Bumetanide
- Calcium Phosphate, Supersaturated
- Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Carbinoxamine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Casanthranol; Docusate Sodium
- Castor Oil
- Chlorpheniramine; Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Chlorpheniramine; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Dichlorphenamide
- Diphenhydramine; Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Ethacrynic Acid
- Furosemide
- Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone
- Guaifenesin; Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Homatropine; Hydrocodone
- Hydrocodone
- Hydrocodone; Ibuprofen
- Hydrocodone; Phenylephrine
- Hydrocodone; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate
- Hydrocodone; Potassium Guaiacolsulfonate; Pseudoephedrine
- Hydrocodone; Pseudoephedrine
- Lactulose
- Loop diuretics
- Pimozide
- Polyethylene Glycol; Electrolytes; Bisacodyl
- Senna
- Sodium Phosphate Monobasic Monohydrate; Sodium Phosphate Dibasic Anhydrous
- Sodium picosulfate; Magnesium oxide; Anhydrous citric acid
- Stimulant Laxatives
- Torsemide
