So What’s a Mom To Do? Natural Approaches to Children's Constipation While a new research group, funded by the FDA, is convening at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia to investigate the safely of these substances in children, it is disturbing that anyone would ever think it’s okay to consciously include antifreeze in a children’s medication – particularly one that is used daily over a long period of time. There’s still no data on what happens in kids, whose nervous systems are developing well into their teens, when they chronically ingest these toxins. In spite of this, small amounts of these toxic contaminants are actually considered acceptable in the final product, and are, according to FDA standards, and considered “safe.” However, this is when used in adults, and only for up to 7 days at a time. This is another known effect of ethylene glycol poisoning. A 2014 FDA investigation into the safety of Miralax discovered that tiny amounts of ethylene glycol (EG) and diethylene glycol (DEG), the main ingredients in antifreeze, were found in all batches of the drug they tested.įurthermore, an FDA spokesperson admitted that “many of the reported adverse events were classic symptoms of ethylene glycol ingestion.” Some children regularly using Miralax had blood acidity when tested, according to the FDA. I think so! The FDA admits to years of reports of tremors, tics and obsessive-compulsive behavior in children given laxatives containing PEG 3350, the active ingredient in Miralax. Should we be concerned about this medication? In 2012 the Empire State Consumer Project, an environmental consumer action group in New York, petitioned the FDA to more aggressively investigate the use of Miralax in children. When I was in my medical training, we were in fact, taught that it was basically as safe as water. When it was first approved for adult use by the FDA in 1999, it came with a warning: “Miralax should not be used by children.” Moreover, it has never been approved by the FDA for pediatric use. To date, no long-term studies meeting FDA criteria have ever been conducted on Miralax (or a similar generic product) use in children. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug for use only by adults, and for only 7 days at a time.” The 2012 article also stated, “The way many families use Miralax and its many generic equivalents has strayed far from its original intent. The New York Times has actually run two articles questioning the safety of pediatric Miralax use in the last two years. According to a 2012 New York Times article on Miralax use in kids, one doctor, a pediatrician in Beverly Hills, CA, said, “I’ve had kids on it daily for years” and “We literally give it like water.” The recent article, in January 2015, reiterates the problems. It (or similar generic medications) is recommended by about 75% of pediatricians in the US, according to one study. Miralax is the most common medical treatment for children's constipation. But the parents got concerned after reading a recent New York Times article questioning the safety of Miralax in kids. Kayla’s pediatrician, like most would, prescribed Miralax for regular daily use, which was working really well. When she finally does poop, it’s painful, to the point that she often avoids going even when she needs to.

Like so many kids (and adults!), she gets cranky, uncomfortable, and loses her appetite when she’s constipated. She’s often skipping bowel movements for a week at a time, or even more. Kayla is a bright, round-faced, adorable 3 year-old girl who is having trouble going to the bathroom. Aviva’s 7 Steps for Treating Children’s Constipation, Naturally So What’s a Mom To Do? Natural Approaches to Children's Constipation.

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