Everyone goes through constipation at some point in their lives. It is a condition where you have fewer bowel movements, making feces hard to pass through the system. It can lead to symptoms like bloating, lethargy, and appetite loss followed by irritation. Some common reasons for this include lack of fiber in the diet, side effects from medications, and other abdominal issues.
MiraLAX and Metamucil are two popular supplements marketed as effective relievers for constipation. While both work the same way, their working mechanism differs significantly. While Metamucil works as a fiber supplement, MiraLAX is an osmotic laxative that helps in improving digestive health.
So which one should you take for your constipation? Miralax or Metamucil. How do they differ from each other?
Keep reading to find the answers.
What Is MiraLAX?
MiraLAX is an osmotic laxative containing polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG). It works by increasing the volume of water in your intestines, which softens the stools and helps them pass through your intestines faster.
Unlike stimulant laxatives, Miralax is marketed as a gentler formula. It comes in bottles in loose powder or packaged in small sachets that one can take with hot or cold beverages such as water, coffee, tea, smoothie, etc. However, it should only be used as a temporary measure and not more than seven days in a row.
What Is Metamucil?
Metamucil is a fiber supplement for increasing the level of fiber in your diet. Its active ingredient, psyllium husk, is entirely natural, containing soluble and insoluble fiber. The soluble fiber helps absorb the water content in your stomach and soften the stool, while the insoluble fiber bulks the stool and makes it pass through the intestines effortlessly.
Metamucil comes with a wide range of product lines, such as powders, gummies, wafers, capsules, and fiber thins, giving you more options to meet your daily fiber intakes. While laxatives are for temporary use, you can take Metamucil regularly for a more extended period.
Difference between MiraLax and Metamucil
| Factors | MiraLAX | Metamucil |
| Working Mechanism | It is an osmotic laxative to draw water from intestines and soften the stool. | It is a natural form of soluble and insoluble fiber that soften and bulk your stool to make it pass naturally through your intestines. |
| Active Ingredients | It contains Polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350. | It contains psyllium husks derived from the seeds of the plant “plantago ovata” also called blond plantain, desert Indianwheat, blond psyllium, and ispagol worldwide. |
| Treatment duration | It is supposed to taken as-needed basis and should not be extend beyond seven days consecutively. | It is a natural form of fibers, so you can take it as a fiber supplement for treating your chronic constipation. |
| Form of consumption | It is available in power form that you can take it with your choice of beverages. | It comes it powder, gummies and snacks, offering more choices. |
| Effectiveness | It is more effective in treating occasional constipation but does not cure the underlying issues, especially if you have low fiber in your diet. | It replenish your fiber intake and take care of your constipation issues in a natural way. |
| Side-effects | People taking MiraLAX may experience some side-effects such as abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. | Metamucil is mostly safe and well tolerable for people who already takes psyllium husks. Some people may experience bloating, gas or diahhrea. This only happens when you don’t take enough liquid with the supplement or take more fiber than the permissible limit. |
| Cost | MiraLAX is expensive. A single self-serving sachet of 10 costs $14.99, equals to $1.50 per serving. The 45 dose bottle costs $24.48 equals to 54 cents per serving. | Metamucil is less expensive than MiraLAX. Metamucil 4-in-1 costs around $25 offering 180 servings, which will costs you 14 cents per serving. Metamucil capsules are more expensive. The 3-in-1 capsules costs $28.99 providing 300 capsules (60 servings) which equals to 48 cents per serving. |
| Dosage | It should only be taken once a day. | It can be taken 3 times a day. |
| Claimed Benefits | Relieves occasional constipation. | It provides digestive support, controls appetite, regulates blood sugar and lowers cholesterol. |
Which one is better? Miralax or Metamucil?
For a short-term and faster relief from constipation, MiraLAX is the best. However, if your constipation is chronic and is caused due to lack of fiber in the diet, then you may take Metamucil supplements to regulate your bowel movements and treat chronic constipation. For a long term support, Metamucil is the way to go.
