121 replies to this topic

[aribadabar]

 

Miralax

 

 

Can someone comment on this caution on Miralax?

Is it fearmongering or a legitimate concern?

[krillin]

Seems like fearmongering to me. PEG 3350 is completely unabsorbed and excreted unchanged. According to this article,

 

Polyethylene glycols are reported to be stable in air and solution, and do not hydrolyze or deteriorate upon storage. ... The applicant indicates that there are no known specific incompatibilities with typical food supplement active ingredients and polyethylene glycol. The applicant also indicates that polyethylene glycol is not expected to react with other components of food supplements or in the gastrointestinal tract. General reactions of PEG described in the Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients require extreme conditions not relevant for the proposed use (Rowe et al., 2003). ... in animals ethylene glycol has not been detected as a metabolite of polyethylene glycol ... Furthermore, polyethylene glycol was identified to possess anticarcinogenic properties when administered during the promotion phase following initiation with various chemical carcinogens. ...

The reference #4 does not appear to support the claim that PEG applied to the skin causes kidney toxicity. The abstract concludes with "In general, however, the metabolites of concern are not expected to be formed in cosmetic formulations that contain polymers of ethylene glycol."