MiraLAX (polyethylene glycol 3350) is an over-the-counter drug used to treat constipation in adults and certain children. MiraLAX can interact with some supplements and other medications, including laxatives such as bisacodyl (Dulcolax, others).
An interaction can occur because one substance causes another substance to have a different effect than expected. Interactions can also occur if you have certain health conditions.
Before you start taking MiraLAX, tell your doctor and pharmacist about any prescription, over-the-counter, or other drugs you take. Sharing this information with them may help prevent possible interactions. (To learn whether MiraLAX interacts with herbs or vitamins and supplements, see the “Are there other interactions with MiraLAX?” section later.)
If you have questions about what drugs should not be taken with MiraLAX, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can tell you which other medications you can safely take with MiraLAX.
The table below lists drugs that may interact with MiraLAX. Keep in mind that this table does not include all drugs that may interact with MiraLAX. For more information about some of these interactions, see the “Drug interactions explained” section.
| Drug group or drug name | Drug examples | What can happen |
| dichlorphenamide (Keveyis, Ormalvi) | — | can increase the risk of having a low level of blood potassium |
| diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil) | — | MiraLAX and diphenoxylate/atropine may be less effective |
| pimozide | — | can raise the risk of long QT syndrome |
| loop diuretics | • bumetanide (Bumex) • ethacrynic acid (Edecrin) • furosemide (Furoscix, Lasix) • torsemide (Soaanz) | can increase the risk of electrolyte imbalance or kidney problems |
| other laxatives | • bisacodyl (Dulcolax, others) • lactulose (Generlac) • sodium phosphates (Fleet Enema) | can raise the risk of side effects from MiraLAX and other laxatives |
MiraLAX is not known to interact with alcohol. However, drinking alcohol may cause diarrhea or constipation. Diarrhea is a possible side effect of MiraLAX, and the drug is used to treat constipation. So consuming alcohol while taking MiraLAX could worsen the drug’s side effects or make MiraLAX less effective.
If you have questions about consuming alcohol while taking MiraLAX, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Learn more about certain drug interactions that can occur with MiraLAX.
Interaction with diphenoxylate/atropine
MiraLAX can interact with diphenoxylate/atropine (Lomotil), which is used to treat diarrhea.
What could happen
MiraLAX and diphenoxylate/atropine treat opposite digestive problems. Because of how each drug works in the body, MiraLAX and diphenoxylate/atropine can mask each other’s effects. This could make either drug less effective for your condition.
What you can do
Your doctor will likely not prescribe diphenoxylate/atropine with MiraLAX.
Diarrhea is a common side effect of MiraLAX. If you have this side effect, your doctor may advise you to stop taking MiraLAX, as the drug is typically used for occasional constipation.
If you have questions about taking MiraLAX with diphenoxylate/atropine, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with loop diuretics
MiraLAX can interact with loop diuretics. These drugs are used to manage fluid levels related to heart failure, kidney disease, and other conditions. Loop diuretics can also be used to treat high blood pressure.
Examples of loop diuretics include:
- bumetanide (Bumex)
- ethacrynic acid (Edecrin)
- furosemide (Furoscix, Lasix)
- torsemide (Soaanz)
What could happen
Loop diuretics may cause an electrolyte imbalance. If taken with a loop diuretic, MiraLAX may cause diarrhea or dehydration that worsens this imbalance. Having a worsened electrolyte imbalance may increase the risk of kidney problems.
What you can do
If you take a loop diuretic, talk with your doctor before taking MiraLAX. They can recommend whether it’s safe to take these medications together.
If you take MiraLAX with a loop diuretic, your doctor may give you blood or urine tests to check how well your kidneys are working.
If you have questions about taking MiraLAX with a loop diuretic, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Interaction with other laxatives
MiraLAX is a laxative, and it can interact with other drugs of this type.
Examples of other laxatives include:
- bisacodyl (Dulcolax, others)
- lactulose (Generlac)
- sodium phosphates (Fleet Enema)
What could happen
Because of the way each drug works in the body, taking MiraLAX with another laxative can raise your risk of side effects from either drug. These side effects may include:
- diarrhea
- dehydration
- ulcers or inflammation in the colon
What you can do
Before taking MiraLAX with other laxatives, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They may advise you not to take these drugs together. They can recommend whether MiraLAX or another laxative may be best for your specific condition.
MiraLAX may have other interactions. They could occur with supplements, foods, vaccines, or even lab tests. See below for details. Note that the information below does not include all other possible interactions with MiraLAX.
Does MiraLAX interact with supplements?
MiraLAX can interact with castor oil, which is a supplement used to treat constipation. Taking MiraLAX with this supplement may raise your risk of ulcers or inflammation in the colon.
For this reason, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking castor oil with MiraLAX. Your doctor can determine whether one product or the other may be best for your specific condition.
Before you start taking MiraLAX, talk with your doctor and pharmacist about any herbs or vitamins and supplements you take. Sharing this information with them may help you avoid possible interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
MiraLAX interactions with herbs
MiraLAX can interact with senna, which is an herb used to treat constipation. Taking MiraLAX with this herb may raise your risk of ulcers or inflammation in the colon.
For this reason, it’s important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking senna or other herbs with MiraLAX.
MiraLAX and vitamins
There are currently no reports of MiraLAX interacting with vitamins. But this doesn’t mean that vitamin interactions won’t be recognized in the future.
For this reason, it’s still important to check with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any of these products while taking MiraLAX.
Does MiraLAX have food interactions?
There are currently no reports of MiraLAX interacting with food.
However, MiraLAX may interact with certain thickeners that are used by people who have difficulty swallowing. These include thickeners containing starch, such as cornstarch, which are added to liquids to make them safer to swallow.
If you have difficulty swallowing, talk with your doctor before taking MiraLAX. They can recommend a different thickener, such as xanthan gum, that’s safe to use with the drug. Or they may recommend an alternative to MiraLAX instead.
Does MiraLAX interact with vaccines?
There are currently no reports of MiraLAX interacting with vaccines. If you have questions about getting certain vaccines during your MiraLAX treatment, talk with your doctor.
Does MiraLAX interact with lab tests?
There are currently no reports of MiraLAX interacting with lab tests. If you have questions about having certain lab tests during your treatment with MiraLAX, talk with the healthcare professional ordering the test.
Does MiraLAX interact with cannabis or CBD?There are currently no reports of MiraLAX interacting with cannabis (commonly called marijuana) or cannabis products such as cannabidiol (CBD). But as with any drug or supplement, talk with your doctor before using cannabis with MiraLAX.
Note: Cannabis is illegal at a federal level but is legal in many states to varying degrees.
Certain medical conditions or other health factors may raise the risk of interactions with MiraLAX. Before taking MiraLAX, talk with your doctor about your health history. They’ll determine whether MiraLAX is right for you.
Health conditions or other factors that might interact with MiraLAX include:
Certain digestive problems: MiraLAX is used to treat occasional constipation. If you have other digestive problems, it’s best to talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking MiraLAX. These problems may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Also, talk with your doctor if you’ve had any changes in bowel movements that have lasted more than 2 weeks. They can recommend whether it’s safe to take MiraLAX.
Kidney disease: MiraLAX may cause diarrhea and dehydration, which could worsen kidney disease. If you have kidney disease, talk with your doctor before taking MiraLAX. They can determine whether it’s safe to take the drug.
Pregnancy: MiraLAX is generally considered safe to take during pregnancy. However, if you’re pregnant or planning a pregnancy, it’s best to talk with your doctor before taking MiraLAX.
Breastfeeding: It’s generally considered safe to take MiraLAX while breastfeeding. But if you’re breastfeeding or planning to do so, it’s best to talk with your doctor before taking the drug.
Allergic reaction: If you’ve had an allergic reaction to MiraLAX or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe MiraLAX. This is because taking the drug could cause another allergic reaction. You can ask your doctor about other treatments that may be better choices for you.
Find answers to some frequently asked questions about MiraLAX and possible interactions.
Are any potential interactions of MiraLAX dangerous for adults?
Possibly. MiraLAX can interact with other medications, some supplements, and certain health conditions. These interactions may be dangerous for some people.
For example, MiraLAX may not be safe for people with kidney disease. The drug could cause diarrhea and dehydration, which may worsen kidney disease. The sections above list other factors to consider before taking MiraLAX.
If you have specific questions about MiraLAX interactions that may affect you, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can review your health history and other medications you take to help determine whether MiraLAX may be safe for you.
Does MiraLAX affect medication absorption? If so, how long after taking MiraLAX can I take other drugs?
MiraLAX has not been reported to affect how well the body absorbs other medications.
However, MiraLAX may speed up how quickly medications and foods pass through your digestive system. It’s possible this could affect how well your body absorbs other medications.
If you have any concerns about taking MiraLAX with other drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. They can recommend how to safely take MiraLAX with other medications.
Is there an interaction between MiraLAX and blood pressure medications?
Yes, MiraLAX may interact with certain blood pressure medications. Specifically, the drug may interact with loop diuretics. For more details, see the “Drug interactions explained” section.
There are currently no reports of MiraLAX interacting with other medications used to treat high blood pressure.
If you have questions about taking a specific blood pressure medication with MiraLAX, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
Taking certain steps can help you avoid interactions with MiraLAX. Before starting treatment, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Things to discuss with them include:
- whether you drink alcohol or use cannabis
- other medications you take, as well as any vitamins, supplements, and herbs (they can also help you fill out a
medication list ) - what to do if you start taking a new drug during your MiraLAX treatment
It’s also important to understand MiraLAX’s
If you have trouble reading or understanding this information, your doctor or pharmacist can help.
Taking MiraLAX exactly as recommended can also help prevent interactions.
Disclaimer: Healthline has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.