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Is Miralax Advisable For A Patient With Kidney Disease?

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Posted on Thu, 22 Jun 2017
Question: I am having a colonoscopy tomorrow morning and I took the miralax with Gatorade and am supposed to finish the prep tomorrow morning. I know it is my responsibility, but I just read the bottle of miralax and it says not to use if you have kidney disease and I have kidney disease stage 3. Now since I read this, I am very hesitant to continue taking the prep tomorrow morning. I don't know what to do.

this is a one time question and usage of this site, so I only want to pay the $15.00
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Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
Information

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

I agree that you should be cautious about taking the Miralax if you have kidney disease. There are other alternatives. For example some gastroenterologists will have patients use a different, less potent, laxative the night before, and then the day of the colonoscopy have the nurse give 2 saline enemas (not the same as Fleets enemas) while you are in the prep station getting the IV in your arm, etc.

What I suggest you do is call tonight, the phone number for the clinic or gastroenterology doctor that you are scheduled with. While they won't be there, there should be an answering service that will connect you with a gastroenterologist who is on-call for the group of doctors. If it is a university hospital, they will likely have the gastroenterology fellow resident call you. Explain your diagnosis and ask for an alternative.

Don't feel bad about not having noticed the contraindication to using Miralax. That really is the responsibility of the medical staff to have considered all of your health problems.

Please let me know if I can provide further information.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh

General & Family Physician

Practicing since :1991

Answered : 3134 Questions

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Is Miralax Advisable For A Patient With Kidney Disease?

Brief Answer: Information Detailed Answer: Hello and welcome, I agree that you should be cautious about taking the Miralax if you have kidney disease. There are other alternatives. For example some gastroenterologists will have patients use a different, less potent, laxative the night before, and then the day of the colonoscopy have the nurse give 2 saline enemas (not the same as Fleets enemas) while you are in the prep station getting the IV in your arm, etc. What I suggest you do is call tonight, the phone number for the clinic or gastroenterology doctor that you are scheduled with. While they won't be there, there should be an answering service that will connect you with a gastroenterologist who is on-call for the group of doctors. If it is a university hospital, they will likely have the gastroenterology fellow resident call you. Explain your diagnosis and ask for an alternative. Don't feel bad about not having noticed the contraindication to using Miralax. That really is the responsibility of the medical staff to have considered all of your health problems. Please let me know if I can provide further information.