Reference 1
Efficacy and Safety of Traditional Medical Therapies for Chronic Constipation: Systematic Review.

Ramkumar D, Rao SS. Am J Gastroenterol. 2005;100(4):936-971.

• The results of 37 years of clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of laxatives were studied and compared to make guideline recommendations for their use
• The best evidence found supports the use of polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX) and tegaserod
• Considerable evidence also supported the use of psyllium and lactulose

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Study 1
New Polyethylene Glycol Laxative for Treatment of Constipation in Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

Cleveland MV, Flavin DP, Ruben RA, Epstein RM, Clark GE. South Med J. 2001;94(5):478-481.

• Evaluated the safety and effectiveness of MiraLAX in people with constipation
• 23 patients with constipation were given the normal daily dose (17 grams) of MiraLAX or a placebo and were watched for any changes in how often they had bowel movements
• After 14 days, patients given MiraLAX had significantly (P=.0001) more bowel movements than those on placebo, and they had no serious side effects

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Study 2
An Efficacy and Consumer Preference Study of Polyethylene Glycol 3350 for the Treatment of Constipation in Regular Laxative Users.

Data on file.

• 74 patients with constipation used MiraLAX instead of their usual laxative for up to 2 weeks
• Number of bowel movements nearly doubled with MiraLAX, while there was less complaint of gas and bloating
• More than two thirds of patients in this study preferred MiraLAX to their usual laxative

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Study 3
A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Study of the Safety and Efficacy of a New Polyethylene Glycol Laxative.

DiPalma JA, DeRidder PH, Orlando RC, Kolts BE, Cleveland MB. Am J Gastroenterol. 2000;95(2):446-450.

• Evaluated the safety and effectiveness of MiraLAX in 151 people with constipation
• Patients were given either MiraLAX or a placebo, and kept track of any changes in how often they had bowel movements as well as changes to the bowel movement itself
• After 2 weeks, patients who took MiraLAX had significantly (P<.001) more bowel movements than those who were given a placebo, and also had less cramping and gas

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Study 4
Braintree Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) Laxative for Ambulatory and Long-Term Care Facility Constipation Patients.

DiPalma JA, MacRae DH, Reichelderfer M, et al. Online J Dig Health. 1999;1(2).

• Evaluated the safety and effectiveness of MiraLAX in 50 people with constipation who were either ambulatory outpatients or living in long-term care facilities
• Patients received placebo or a high (34 grams) or low (17 grams) dose of MiraLAX (later reduced to 12 and 6 grams, respectively, in long-term care patients)
• All patients given MiraLAX had increases in how often they had bowel movements and improvement in the quality of the bowel movement, with no severe side effects
• The higher doses of MiraLAX yielded better bowel movements more often versus lower doses, and people given either dose of MiraLAX had better outcomes than those on placebo

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