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What Causes Dizziness And Nausea While On Miralax?
Posted on
Thu, 6 Oct 2016
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 6 Oct 2016
Answered on
Thu, 27 Oct 2016
Last reviewed on
Question : My husband has a continuing problem with constipation for which he takes either Miralax or a laxative every day. Currently he is suffering from light dizziness and spells of feeling nausea that he is attributing to his current laxative. When we travel if we are gone more than 4 days it's a trip to the emergency room for a rotor rooter treatment as laxatives don't seem to work when his daily routine is interrupted. My husband is 84 years old. What should he be asking or talking to his doctor about?
e-mail address: YYYY@YYYY
e-mail address: YYYY@YYYY
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I passed carefully through your husband's medical history and would explain that we have a problem with what is called chronic constipations.
What I would like to emphasize is that when dealing with chronic constipation it is necessary to check for any endocrine or metabolic disorder that may trigger such a disorder.
I recommend discussing with his doctor on the opportunity of performing some tests, as follows:
- thyroid function tests,
- neurologic status evaluation to rule in/out any predisposing disorder like Parkinson, disease, sclerosis, etc.
- gastrointestinal exam (t oexclude irritable bowel syndrome, or any colon mass, etc),
- parathyroid glands function for ruling out any calcium metabolism disorders, etc.
Also it is necessary to modify some dietary and treatment strategies:
- use plenty of fluids for a good body hydration,
- avoid dairy products,
- possibly increase physical activity like daily walking,
- avoid overuse of laxatives, as they weaken the bowel muscles and predispose to further constipation,
- instead I would encourage to discuss with his doctor for the opportunity of using Psyllium (which is only a stool softener and doesn't interfere with the bowel muscle).
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
I passed carefully through your husband's medical history and would explain that we have a problem with what is called chronic constipations.
What I would like to emphasize is that when dealing with chronic constipation it is necessary to check for any endocrine or metabolic disorder that may trigger such a disorder.
I recommend discussing with his doctor on the opportunity of performing some tests, as follows:
- thyroid function tests,
- neurologic status evaluation to rule in/out any predisposing disorder like Parkinson, disease, sclerosis, etc.
- gastrointestinal exam (t oexclude irritable bowel syndrome, or any colon mass, etc),
- parathyroid glands function for ruling out any calcium metabolism disorders, etc.
Also it is necessary to modify some dietary and treatment strategies:
- use plenty of fluids for a good body hydration,
- avoid dairy products,
- possibly increase physical activity like daily walking,
- avoid overuse of laxatives, as they weaken the bowel muscles and predispose to further constipation,
- instead I would encourage to discuss with his doctor for the opportunity of using Psyllium (which is only a stool softener and doesn't interfere with the bowel muscle).
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of any further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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