6 Important Tips To Stay Safe On Laxatives

By Suzy Cohen, R. Ph.

Laxatives are intended to stay in the gut, however, some can affect the central nervous system indirectly by impacting electrolyte balance or stripping away the body’s natural gut microflora.

One in particular called MiraLAX® (PEG 3350) is an “osmotic” laxative. It draws water into the colon which softens the stools and stimulates peristalsis and ultimately a bowel movement. Like all other osmotic laxatives, it has the potential to mildly alter electrolyte balance in the bloodstream, although that effect is rare if it is used properly according to label directions.

MiraLAX is FDA-approved to treat constipation in adults only and is only supposed to be used for a week. It is recommended for opiate-induced constipation in adults. In a short time frame like these scenarios, you should not experience any untoward effects.

But what if you took it for several months? What if you gave an adult-only drug to a small child? What if your doctor told you to keep taking it beyond a week?

Overusing, misusing or abusing laxatives is common and leads to unwanted side effects. The electrolytes that were in homeostasis in the bloodstream become altered unnaturally when laxatives are used chronically.

The FDA has received reports of behavioral changes over the years, especially in children taking PEG 3350. These include agitation and aggression and other behavioral issues. The relationship between PEG 3350 and these side effects hasn’t been formally tied together with a clinical trial. It’s what’s called “anecdotal” and these types of laxatives remain popular all over the world.

But are psychiatric/emotional problems even possible? Impacting the water-to-mineral balance with laxatives, or any drug for that matter may cause the following shifts in any person, which can cause dozens of problems.

Laxatives notoriously cause:

Hypokalemia - low potassium in the blood

Hyponatremia - low sodium in the blood

Hypermagnesemia - high magnesium in the blood

Gut problems - the destruction of healthy gut microflora

Symptoms from these electrolyte imbalances may cause headaches, teary eyes, depression, anxiety, aggression, confusion, dizziness, muscle cramps, nausea, and more. Part of the problem is that laxatives are flushing things out of you including your gut microflora! That’s not good long-term because poor probiotic status causes low GABA and B12, and that alone may lead to emotional problems and even more gut problems than you started with.

6 Tips to Using Laxative Properly

Do not take laxatives longer than the label states, follow directions

Stay hydrated by drinking water or Pedialyte® which will help restore some balance to your potassium and other electrolytes. Drink enough fluids each day while taking this medication in order to offset dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.

Don’t combine laxatives.

Take a probiotic to restore gut flora. Change your diet so you won’t be so reliant on laxatives.

See a gastroenterologist and do the tests required to determine the root cause. An endocrinologist can test you for hypothyroidism, an overlooked but primary cause for chronic constipation. Laxatives are not intended for long-term use, or for children.

(This information is not intended to treat, cure or diagnose your condition. Suzy Cohen is the author of “The 24-Hour Pharmacist” and “Real Solutions.” For more information, visit www.SuzyCohen.com) ©2022 SUZY COHEN, RPH. DISTRIBUTED BY DEAR PHARMACIST, INC.

Motorized Wheelchair Lemon Law.

Who Knew There Was Such A Thing?

By: Michael J. Deem, Esq. of R.C. Shea & Associates

I can’t say that New Jersey does a lot of things right, but I have to admit that our consumer protection laws are some of the best in the country.

When dealing with motorized wheelchairs a “consumer” is defined as the purchaser of the motorized wheelchair, if the motorized wheelchair was purchased from a motorized wheelchair dealer or manufacturer for purposes other than resale. A “consumer” is also a person to whom the motorized wheelchair is transferred for purposes other than resale, if the transfer occurs before the expiration of an express warranty applicable to the motorized wheelchair.

A manufacturer who sells a motorized wheelchair to a “consumer”, either directly or through a motorized wheelchair dealer, shall furnish the consumer with an express (written) warranty for the motorized wheelchair. The duration of the express warranty shall be at least one year. In the event the consumer does not receive the express warranty then the manufacturer shall be deemed to have expressly warranted to the consumer that, for a period of one year from the date of the first delivery to the consumer, the motorized wheelchair will be free from any condition or defect which substantially impairs the value of the wheelchair to the consumer.

If the wheelchair has what is called a “Nonconformity” this means that a condition or defect substantially impairs the use, value or safety of the motorized wheelchair, and that is covered by an express warranty. A “Nonconformity” does not include a condition or defect that is the result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modification or alteration of the motorized wheelchair by the consumer.

If a new motorized wheelchair does not conform to an applicable express warranty and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer, the wheelchair lessor or any of the manufacturer’s authorized dealers and makes the wheelchair available for repair before one year after first delivery of the wheelchair to a consumer then the nonconformity shall be repaired at no charge to the consumer by the manufacturer. However, the consumer must provide the manufacturer a reasonable attempt to repair the wheelchair.

“Reasonable attempt to repair” means, within the term of an express warranty applicable, or within one year after first delivery of the wheelchair to the consumer, whichever is sooner, that: (1) the wheelchair has been in for repair three or more times and the nonconformity continues, or (2) the motorized wheelchair is out of service for an aggregate of at least 20 days due to a nonconformity after having been returned to the manufacturer, wheelchair lessor, or any of the manufacturer’s authorized dealers for repair.

If, after a reasonable attempt to repair, the nonconformity is not repaired then the manufacturer shall, at the direction of a consumer (other than a consumer who leases a motorized wheelchair from a motorized wheelchair dealer), either (1) accept return of the wheelchair and replace the wheelchair with a comparable new one and refund any collateral costs; or (2) accept return of the wheelchair and refund to the consumer and to any holder of a Note on the wheelchair the full purchase price plus any finance charge amount paid by the consumer at the point of sale and collateral costs, less a reasonable allowance for use.

In order to receive a comparable new motorized wheelchair or a refund a consumer shall offer to transfer possession of the defective wheelchair to the manufacturer. No later than 30 days after that offer, the manufacturer shall provide the consumer with the comparable new motorized wheelchair or a refund. When the manufacturer provides the new motorized wheelchair or refund, the consumer shall return the defective wheelchair to the manufacturer, along with any endorsements necessary to transfer legal possession to the manufacturer.

In order to receive a refund a consumer shall:

(a) offer to return the defective wheelchair to its manufacturer. No later than 30 days after that offer, the manufacturer shall provide the refund to the consumer. When the manufacturer provides the refund, the consumer shall return to the wheelchair; and (b) offer to transfer possession of the wheelchair to its manufacturer. No later than 30 days after that offer, the manufacturer shall provide the refund to the motorized wheelchair lessor. When the manufacturer provides the refund, the motorized wheelchair lessor shall provide to the manufacturer any endorsements necessary to transfer legal possession to the manufacturer. Also, keep in mind that any lease of a motorized wheelchair shall not be enforceable after the consumer receives a refund for the leased motorized wheelchair.

No motorized wheelchair returned by a consumer or motorized wheelchair lessor in this State or by a consumer or motorized wheelchair lessor in another state shall be sold or leased again in this New Jersey unless full disclosure of the reasons for return is made to any prospective buyer or lessee.

The consumer litigation attorneys at the Law Offices of R.C. Shea & Associates are available for a free consultation (732-505-1212) to discuss your rights.

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