Our Pick: MiraLAX

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Best Osmotic Laxatives (2026): MiraLAX, ClearLax and the Saline Products, Ranked

MiraLAX, the PEG 3350 powder, is the pick at $8.67 for the small bottle: a Drug Facts label that reads 1 to 3 days, no stimulant, and the product clinicians name for constipation that lasts longer than a night. Amazon Basic Care ClearLax is the same PEG 3350 at $15.73 in a larger size. This page ranks every osmotic laxative on Amazon, PEG and saline, on the label, the window and the price. Prices verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026.

By The Pharmacy Desk2026-09-05~13 min read Ranked on verified label facts, never box claimsHow we research

MiraLAX Laxative Powder, PEG 3350, small bottleBest Overall

MiraLAX Laxative Powder, PEG 3350, small bottle

MiraLAX · 4.8

$8.67

Amazon Basic Care ClearLax Polyethylene Glycol 3350 PowderBest Value

Amazon Basic Care ClearLax Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Powder

Amazon Basic Care · 4.6

$15.73

MiraFAST Soft Chews, from the makers of MiraLAXUpgrade Pick

MiraFAST Soft Chews, from the makers of MiraLAX

MiraLAX · 4.2

$20.39

Buy MiraLAX Laxative Powder, the small bottle, at $8.67 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026). It is polyethylene glycol 3350, PEG 3350, the osmotic laxative whose Drug Facts label reads relief of occasional constipation with a bowel movement generally in 1 to 3 days, for adults and children 17 and older, with 16 or under sent to a doctor, and it is the product a clinician names when constipation is a stretch of days rather than one night. If you want the same PEG 3350 in a larger size for less per bottle, Amazon Basic Care ClearLax at $15.73. If you want an osmotic that works today, the saline products further down are labeled 30 minutes to 6 hours.

An osmotic laxative works by holding water in the bowel. Two families do it. PEG 3350 (MiraLAX, ClearLax) is a non-absorbable powder mixed into a drink; it is gentle, stimulant-free, and slow, 1 to 3 days on the label, and it is the one with the widest use in clinical guidance for ongoing constipation. Saline osmotics use magnesium: magnesium hydroxide (Dulcolax Saline Liquid, milk of magnesia), magnesium citrate (the lemon bottle), and the newer chews; they are faster, 30 minutes to 6 hours on the label, and their labels carry warnings about kidney disease and magnesium-restricted diets that PEG's does not. Glycerin suppositories are hyperosmotic too, and lead the site's flagship ranking, but they are rectal and have their own pages; this page is the oral osmotic shelf.

The label lines, once. PEG 3350: adults and children 17 years of age and older, the capful measure on the label mixed in a drink; children 16 or under, ask a doctor; do not use more than 7 days; generally produces a bowel movement in 1 to 3 days. Saline osmotics: directions by age on the label, drink a full glass of liquid with each dose, ask a doctor with kidney disease or on a magnesium-restricted diet, 30 minutes to 6 hours. Every laxative: stop and ask a doctor for rectal bleeding or no bowel movement after use, and, for the salines, not more than 1 week without a doctor. For a child, the pediatrician decides. We read labels and verify listings; we are not clinicians, nothing here is medical advice, and no brand paid for a placement.

The short version

  • Our Pick: MiraLAX Laxative Powder, small bottle, $8.67 at our September 5, 2026 check. PEG 3350, 1 to 3 days on the label, 17 and older, no stimulant, not more than 7 days.
  • Same PEG 3350 for less per bottle: Amazon Basic Care ClearLax, $15.73 in a larger size; MiraLAX's own large bottle is $14.29.
  • Faster osmotics: Dulcolax Saline Laxative Liquid (magnesium hydroxide, $5.64) and MedRite Magnesium Citrate ($6.99), both labeled 30 minutes to 6 hours, both with kidney and magnesium warnings.
  • Chewable salines: Dulcolax Soft Chews ($9.88) and MiraFAST ($20.39); neither states a count on the title.
  • Kids: Pedia-Lax Chewable Tablets, a saline laxative with age bands on the label, 90 for $16.98. PEG 3350 labels say ask a doctor for 16 or under; the pediatrician decides.

At a glance

ProductFamilyLabel windowLabel agesSize or countPrice (9/5/26)Check price
MiraLAX Laxative Powder, smallPEG 33501 to 3 days17 and older; 16 or under ask a doctorNot on title$8.67Check price on Amazon
Amazon Basic Care ClearLax PEG 3350PEG 33501 to 3 days17 and older; 16 or under ask a doctorNot on title$15.73Check price on Amazon
MiraLAX Laxative Powder, largePEG 33501 to 3 days17 and older; 16 or under ask a doctorNot on title$14.29Check price on Amazon
Dulcolax Saline Laxative Liquid, cherrySaline (magnesium hydroxide)30 minutes to 6 hoursBy age on the label12 fl oz$5.64Check price on Amazon
MedRite Magnesium Citrate Solution, lemonSaline (magnesium citrate)30 minutes to 6 hoursBy age; under 6 ask a doctor1 bottle$6.99Check price on Amazon
Dulcolax Saline Laxative Soft ChewsSaline (magnesium-based)Per panelPer panelNot published$9.88Check price on Amazon
MiraFAST Soft ChewsSaline (stimulant free)Per panelPer panelNot published$20.39Check price on Amazon
Pedia-Lax Kids Chewable Tablets, 30 x 3Saline, children'sPer panelBy age band; under 2 ask a doctor90 tablets$16.98Check price on Amazon

Every oral osmotic laxative we verified. Family and window are as the Drug Facts label states them. PEG 3350 listings do not state a weight or dose count on the title. Prices are live Amazon figures verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026. Cost per unit only where the listing states both price and count.

Our PickBest Overall
MiraLAX Laxative Powder, PEG 3350, small bottle

MiraLAX Laxative Powder, PEG 3350, small bottle

MiraLAX

The PEG 3350 reference: 1 to 3 days, stimulant-free, the osmotic clinicians name.

4.8

Our verdict: MiraLAX is the osmotic laxative, the way Fleet is the glycerin suppository and Colace is the stool softener. PEG 3350 holds water in the bowel without stimulating it, the label reads 1 to 3 days, and it is the product a clinician names when constipation has settled in for a stretch. The small bottle at $8.67 is the right first purchase; the large bottle and ClearLax are for once you know it is your product.

Verified: Labeled active: polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350), osmotic laxative, powder for solution, stool softener and nonstimulant per the listing title. Drug Facts label: for relief of occasional constipation; generally produces a bowel movement in 1 to 3 days; 17 and older, 16 or under ask a doctor; do not use more than 7 days. Bottle size not on the listing title. Live at $8.67 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

The osmotic, defined. MiraLAX Laxative Powder is PEG 3350, a non-absorbable powder measured by the capful on the label and mixed into a drink. The Drug Facts label reads relief of occasional constipation, generally produces a bowel movement in 1 to 3 days, adults and children 17 years of age and older, children 16 or under ask a doctor, do not use more than 7 days. The listing describes it as stimulant-free and gentle, which is the label's own language.

Why it leads this page: PEG 3350 carries none of the kidney, magnesium or sodium warnings the saline osmotics do, it is not a stimulant, and its 1 to 3 day window matches how it is used, daily for a few days rather than once tonight. $8.67 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026) for the small bottle; the title does not state the weight or the number of capfuls, so we do not compute a cost per dose.

Stop lines: rectal bleeding or no bowel movement after use means stop and ask a doctor. If you need something tonight, PEG 3350 is the wrong product and the best laxatives for fast relief is the right page; the rectal-versus-PEG decision is laid out in suppository vs MiraLAX, and the brand line is in our MiraLAX review.

Who should buy it

Adults with constipation lasting more than a night who want the stimulant-free osmotic clinicians name, and anyone buying PEG 3350 for the first time.

What we don't like

Slow by design, the label sends everyone 16 or under to a doctor, and the listing title states no weight or dose count.

Active ingredient
Polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350)
Family
Osmotic, non-stimulant
Label window
1 to 3 days
Label ages
17 and older; 16 or under ask a doctor
Form
Powder for solution, capful measure on the label
Size
Not on the listing title
Label limit
Do not use more than 7 days

What we like

  • The PEG 3350 reference
  • No kidney, magnesium or sodium warnings
  • Stimulant-free

Worth noting

  • 1 to 3 days
  • Ask a doctor for 16 or under
  • Size not on the title
Best ValueBest Value PEG 3350
Amazon Basic Care ClearLax Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Powder

Amazon Basic Care ClearLax Polyethylene Glycol 3350 Powder

Amazon Basic Care

The same PEG 3350 as MiraLAX under the Amazon Basic Care label, in a larger size.

4.6

Our verdict: ClearLax is PEG 3350 with a store label, the same active and the same Drug Facts lines as MiraLAX. At $15.73 it is a larger bottle than MiraLAX's small one, and the value buy once you know PEG 3350 is your product. The listing does not state the weight, so we rank it on price and identity rather than a per-dose figure.

Verified: Labeled active: polyethylene glycol 3350, osmotic laxative, powder for solution, relieves occasional constipation per the listing title. Drug Facts label: 1 to 3 days; 17 and older, 16 or under ask a doctor; not more than 7 days. Bottle size not on the listing title. Live at $15.73 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

Generic PEG 3350. Amazon Basic Care ClearLax is polyethylene glycol 3350 powder for solution, labeled as an osmotic laxative that relieves occasional constipation. The Drug Facts label carries the PEG 3350 lines: 1 to 3 days, 17 and older, 16 or under ask a doctor, not more than 7 days.

$15.73 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026), size not on the title. It is priced above MiraLAX's large bottle at $14.29, which is worth checking on the day you buy; the two are the same medicine and the cheaper one per gram is the buy. Neither listing states its weight, so read both before choosing.

PEG 3350 label lines apply. Amazon Basics also sells the docusate stool softener that leads the value end of the best stool softeners.

Who should buy it

Adults who know PEG 3350 is their product and want a larger bottle at a store-brand price.

What we don't like

Weight not on the title, and at our check it was priced above the MiraLAX large bottle.

Active ingredient
Polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350)
Family
Osmotic, non-stimulant
Label window
1 to 3 days
Label ages
17 and older; 16 or under ask a doctor
Form
Powder for solution
Size
Not on the listing title
Label limit
Do not use more than 7 days

What we like

  • Same PEG 3350 as MiraLAX
  • Larger bottle

Worth noting

  • Weight not on the title
  • Check price against MiraLAX large
Best Large Bottle From the Brand
MiraLAX Laxative Powder, PEG 3350, large bottle

MiraLAX Laxative Powder, PEG 3350, large bottle

MiraLAX

MiraLAX's larger bottle at $14.29, less than ClearLax at our check.

4.7

Our verdict: The brand's large bottle, and at $14.29 it undercut the ClearLax generic at our September 5, 2026 check. Same PEG 3350, same label. If you use MiraLAX for a stretch of days at a time and want the brand, this is the size; check it against ClearLax on the day.

Verified: Labeled active: PEG 3350, osmotic laxative, powder for solution, stool softener, no harsh side effects per the listing title. Same Drug Facts label as the small bottle. Bottle size not on the listing title. Live at $14.29 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

More of the reference. MiraLAX Laxative Powder, large bottle, is the same PEG 3350 with the same Drug Facts lines: 1 to 3 days, 17 and older, 16 or under ask a doctor, not more than 7 days.

$14.29 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026), size not on the title. The MiraLAX mid-size bottle is $13.98; the small is $8.67. None of the three states its weight on the Amazon title, so the honest advice is to read the gram count on the listing page before choosing a size.

PEG 3350 label lines apply, including the 7 day limit: a product used for more than a week is a clinician's conversation, which is also the answer to suppository vs oral laxative for anyone with ongoing constipation.

Who should buy it

Established MiraLAX users who want the brand in its larger size.

What we don't like

Weight not on the title, and three sizes with no stated grams makes comparison a chore.

Active ingredient
Polyethylene glycol 3350 (PEG 3350)
Family
Osmotic, non-stimulant
Label window
1 to 3 days
Label ages
17 and older; 16 or under ask a doctor
Form
Powder for solution
Size
Not on the listing title
Label limit
Do not use more than 7 days

What we like

  • Brand at a lower price than the generic at our check
  • Same label

Worth noting

  • Weight not on the title
Best Fast Osmotic (Saline)
Dulcolax Saline Laxative Liquid, Cherry, 12 fl oz

Dulcolax Saline Laxative Liquid, Cherry, 12 fl oz

Dulcolax

Magnesium hydroxide, 30 minutes to 6 hours on the label, a multi-dose 12 fl oz bottle.

4.3

Our verdict: When an osmotic has to work today, the saline family is the one with the label for it, and Dulcolax's magnesium hydroxide liquid is the multi-dose bottle: 30 minutes to 6 hours, cherry flavor, $5.64 for 12 fl oz. It carries the magnesium warnings PEG does not, which is the trade for the speed.

Verified: Labeled active: magnesium hydroxide, saline laxative, liquid, cherry, 12 fl oz per the listing title. Drug Facts label: generally produces a bowel movement in 30 minutes to 6 hours; directions by age; drink a full glass of liquid with each dose. Live at $5.64 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

Milk of magnesia, branded. Dulcolax Saline Laxative Liquid is magnesium hydroxide, a saline osmotic, labeled for relief of occasional constipation with a bowel movement generally in 30 minutes to 6 hours. Directions are by age on the label, measured by the cap; the label says to drink a full glass of liquid with each dose.

The saline trade: hours instead of days, and a label that says ask a doctor before use with kidney disease or on a magnesium-restricted diet. Occasional use; not more than 1 week without a doctor. $5.64 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026) for 12 fl oz.

Stop lines apply. The magnesium products are sorted by their panels in the best magnesium citrate for constipation.

Who should buy it

Adults who want an osmotic labeled for hours rather than days and are not on the magnesium ask-a-doctor list.

What we don't like

Kidney and magnesium warnings, and a liquid format.

Active ingredient
Magnesium hydroxide (saline laxative)
Family
Saline osmotic
Label window
30 minutes to 6 hours
Label ages
By age on the label
Form
Oral liquid, cherry
Size
12 fl oz
Label limit
Not more than 1 week without a doctor

What we like

  • 30 minutes to 6 hours
  • Multi-dose bottle
  • Low price

Worth noting

  • Magnesium warnings
  • Liquid
The Magnesium Citrate Bottle
MedRite Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution, Natural Lemon

MedRite Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution, Natural Lemon

MedRite

The single-bottle saline osmotic, 30 minutes to 6 hours on the label.

4.3

Our verdict: The lemon bottle is the other fast saline osmotic, sold as a single-use bottle rather than a multi-dose one. Same 30 minutes to 6 hours, same kidney and magnesium warnings. MedRite is a Tier B generic house for a product that is generic everywhere. It ranks below the Dulcolax liquid on brand and format, not on the label.

Verified: Labeled active: magnesium citrate, saline laxative, oral solution, lemon. Drug Facts label: generally produces a bowel movement in 30 minutes to 6 hours; directions by age, under 6 ask a doctor; drink a full glass of liquid with each dose. Live at $6.99 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

The single-shot saline. MedRite Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution is a saline osmotic in lemon flavor, labeled for relief of occasional constipation, 30 minutes to 6 hours, directions by age with under 6 sent to a doctor.

$6.99 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026) per bottle. Ask a doctor with kidney disease or on a magnesium-restricted diet; occasional use; 1 week line. It is a blunt, whole-bottle product, and the magnesium citrate capsules sold beside it are supplements with no laxative label at all.

Stop lines apply. The full sorting of magnesium citrate laxatives from magnesium citrate supplements is the best magnesium citrate for constipation.

Who should buy it

Adults who want the magnesium citrate bottle specifically.

What we don't like

Tier B house, whole-bottle format, magnesium warnings.

Active ingredient
Magnesium citrate (saline laxative)
Family
Saline osmotic
Label window
30 minutes to 6 hours
Label ages
By age; under 6 ask a doctor
Form
Oral solution, lemon
Size
1 bottle
Label limit
Not more than 1 week without a doctor

What we like

  • 30 minutes to 6 hours
  • Generic pricing

Worth noting

  • Magnesium warnings
  • Single-bottle format
Best Chewable Saline
Dulcolax Saline Laxative Soft Chews, Mixed Berry

Dulcolax Saline Laxative Soft Chews, Mixed Berry

Dulcolax

A magnesium saline osmotic in a mixed berry chew; count and window on the panel.

4.3

Our verdict: The saline osmotic for people who will not drink a liquid: a magnesium-based chew with a Drug Facts label, described as fast-acting. The listing title states neither the count nor the window, so the panel carries both. Same magnesium warnings as the liquid.

Verified: Labeled: Dulcolax saline laxative soft chews, fast-acting, gentle constipation relief, mixed berry, magnesium-based per the listing title. Drug Facts panel carries the active, strength, window and directions. Count not on the listing title. Live at $9.88 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

Saline, chewable. Dulcolax Saline Laxative Soft Chews are a magnesium-based saline laxative in mixed berry, labeled fast-acting and gentle. It is an OTC drug with a Drug Facts panel.

$9.88 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026), count not on the title. Saline chews in this class carry a 30 minutes to 6 hours window; confirm on the box. Kidney and magnesium warnings; occasional use; 1 week line.

Stop lines apply. The Dulcolax line spans stimulant, saline and softener; the brand's suppository and tablets are compared in Dulcolax suppository vs tablets.

Who should buy it

Adults who want a fast saline osmotic in a chew.

What we don't like

Count and window not on the listing title.

Active ingredient
Magnesium-based saline laxative (see panel)
Family
Saline osmotic
Label window
Per the Drug Facts panel
Label ages
Per the Drug Facts panel
Form
Oral soft chew, mixed berry
Size
Not published
Label limit
Not more than 1 week without a doctor

What we like

  • Chewable saline with a laxative label
  • Dulcolax brand

Worth noting

  • Count not published
  • Magnesium warnings
Upgrade PickThe MiraLAX House's Fast Chew
MiraFAST Soft Chews, from the makers of MiraLAX

MiraFAST Soft Chews, from the makers of MiraLAX

MiraLAX

A stimulant-free saline chew from the MiraLAX house; not PEG 3350, and priced above everything here.

4.2

Our verdict: MiraFAST is not MiraLAX. It is a saline laxative chew from the same house, labeled fast acting and stimulant free, for people who want the brand but not the 1 to 3 day wait. At $20.39 with no count on the title it is the most expensive box on this page, and it carries a saline's warnings rather than PEG's clean label.

Verified: Labeled: MiraFAST soft chews, gentle constipation relief, fast acting, stimulant free, saline laxative, per the listing title. Drug Facts panel carries the active, strength and window. Count not on the listing title. Live at $20.39 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

Same house, different medicine. MiraFAST Soft Chews are described on the listing as a fast-acting, stimulant-free saline laxative from the makers of MiraLAX. That makes them a saline osmotic, not PEG 3350, with a saline's label.

$20.39 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026), count and window not on the title. The panel has both; saline chews in this class are labeled 30 minutes to 6 hours. Kidney and magnesium warnings; occasional use; 1 week line.

Stop lines apply. The whole MiraLAX family, including the fiber gummies that are a supplement rather than a laxative, is in our MiraLAX review.

Who should buy it

Buyers loyal to the MiraLAX house who want a fast saline chew.

What we don't like

The most expensive box here, no count on the title, and a saline's warnings rather than PEG's label.

Active ingredient
Saline laxative (see panel)
Family
Saline osmotic, stimulant free
Label window
Per the Drug Facts panel
Label ages
Per the Drug Facts panel
Form
Oral soft chew
Size
Not published
Label limit
Not more than 1 week without a doctor

What we like

  • Stimulant free per the title
  • MiraLAX house

Worth noting

  • $20.39
  • Count not published
  • Not PEG 3350
The Kids Saline Chewable (Pediatrician Decides)
Pedia-Lax Kids Chewable Laxative Tablets, Watermelon, 30 count (3 pack)

Pedia-Lax Kids Chewable Laxative Tablets, Watermelon, 30 count (3 pack)

Pedia-Lax (Fleet)

A children's saline laxative chewable with age bands on the label, 90 tablets for $16.98.

4.4

Our verdict: PEG 3350 labels send everyone 16 or under to a doctor, which leaves the pediatric osmotic shelf to the pediatrician and to this product: a saline chewable from Fleet's pediatric line with age bands printed on the label. Ninety tablets for $16.98 is about 19 cents each. A pediatrician decides whether a child gets a laxative, and which.

Verified: Labeled: Pedia-Lax kids chewable laxative tablets, watermelon, 30 per bottle, 3 bottles. Drug Facts label: saline laxative for relief of occasional constipation in children; directions by age band; under 2 ask a doctor. Live at $16.98 on Amazon, verified via the Creators API on September 5, 2026.

The children's osmotic with a children's label. Pedia-Lax Kids Chewable Laxative Tablets are a saline laxative in a watermelon chewable, three bottles of 30. The Drug Facts label directs by age band and says ask a doctor under 2. We do not restate the tablet counts; the box and the pediatrician do.

$16.98 (verified via the Amazon Creators API on September 5, 2026) divided by 90 is about 19 cents per tablet. Note that MiraLAX and ClearLax labels say ask a doctor for children 16 or under; a pediatrician may still name PEG 3350 for a child, and that instruction governs, but no PEG listing here carries a children's label.

Stop lines mean a call. The pediatric shelf a pediatrician chooses from is in the best kids laxatives; the pediatric suppository alternative is in the best glycerin suppositories for kids.

Who should buy it

Parents whose pediatrician has named a chewable saline laxative for a child in the label's age bands.

What we don't like

Three bottles is a lot of tablets for occasional use, and the active's strength is on the panel, not the title.

Active ingredient
Saline laxative (see Drug Facts panel)
Family
Saline osmotic, children's
Label window
Per the Drug Facts panel
Label ages
By age band on the label; under 2 ask a doctor
Form
Oral chewable tablet, watermelon
Size
90 tablets (3 bottles of 30)
Cost per unit
$0.19 per tablet ($16.98 divided by 90)

What we like

  • The only children's osmotic label here
  • Count published
  • Fleet's pediatric line

Worth noting

  • Pediatrician-gated
  • Three bottles is a lot

What you'll need

The six things that go in the same cart as a suppository: the pharmacy-standard glycerin, a daily stool softener, an enema for the nights nothing else works, witch hazel wipes, sitz salts, and a barrier ointment. Prices are approximate at time of writing.

More picks worth comparing

Beyond this guide, the highest-rated picks across every category and budget, with a live price check on each.

Fleet Glycerin, Adult 50 ct

Best Overall

Fleet Glycerin, Adult 50 ct

glycerin · 50 ct · ~$4

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Dulcolax Bisacodyl 10 mg

Best Fast-Acting

Dulcolax Bisacodyl 10 mg

bisacodyl · 4 ct · ~$5

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Preparation H Suppositories

Best for Hemorrhoids

Preparation H Suppositories

12 ct x 2 · ~$18

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pH-D Boric Acid 600 mg

Best Boric Acid

pH-D Boric Acid 600 mg

600 mg · 24 ct · ~$27

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Pedia-Lax Liquid Glycerin, Kids

Best for Kids

Pedia-Lax Liquid Glycerin, Kids

ages 2 to 5 · 6 ct x 3 · ~$21

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FeverAll Infant 80 mg

Best Fever

FeverAll Infant 80 mg

acetaminophen · 6 ct · ~$13

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Quick shop: every pick

Skip the scroll: the whole lineup, with a live price check on each.

  1. MiraLAX Laxative Powder, PEG 3350, small bottleBest OverallMiraLAX · $8.67Check price on Amazon
  2. Amazon Basic Care ClearLax Polyethylene Glycol 3350 PowderBest Value PEG 3350Amazon Basic Care · $15.73Check price on Amazon
  3. MiraLAX Laxative Powder, PEG 3350, large bottleBest Large Bottle From the BrandMiraLAX · $14.29Check price on Amazon
  4. Dulcolax Saline Laxative Liquid, Cherry, 12 fl ozBest Fast Osmotic (Saline)Dulcolax · $5.64Check price on Amazon
  5. MedRite Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution, Natural LemonThe Magnesium Citrate BottleMedRite · $6.99Check price on Amazon
  6. Dulcolax Saline Laxative Soft Chews, Mixed BerryBest Chewable SalineDulcolax · $9.88Check price on Amazon
  7. MiraFAST Soft Chews, from the makers of MiraLAXThe MiraLAX House's Fast ChewMiraLAX · $20.39Check price on Amazon
  8. Pedia-Lax Kids Chewable Laxative Tablets, Watermelon, 30 count (3 pack)The Kids Saline Chewable (Pediatrician Decides)Pedia-Lax (Fleet) · $16.98Check price on Amazon

How we chose

Every oral osmotic laxative in our verified Amazon catalog is on this page: the PEG 3350 powders and the magnesium saline products, liquid, solution and chew, plus the one children's saline chewable. For each we recorded the family and the time window as the Drug Facts label states them, the age lines, the size or count where the listing title states it, and the price live on Amazon on September 5, 2026 via the Creators API. PEG 3350 listings on Amazon do not state the bottle weight or the number of capfuls on the title, so we rank them on price and brand rather than cost per dose, and say so. Cost per unit is computed only where both price and count are published.

Compliance: every product is an OTC drug and we quote its label's Uses and Directions only. PEG 3350 labels direct adults and children 17 and older, send 16 or under to a doctor, and say not more than 7 days; we repeat all three and do not restate the capful measure. Saline labels direct by age, say drink a full glass of liquid with each dose, and warn about kidney disease and magnesium-restricted diets; we repeat those and the 1 week line. Every card carries the stop lines: rectal bleeding or no bowel movement after use means stop and ask a doctor. For a child the pediatrician decides. We are a research and verification desk, not a pharmacy, and nothing here is medical advice. No brand paid for a placement.

Questions, answered

What is the best osmotic laxative?

MiraLAX Laxative Powder, the PEG 3350 reference, at $8.67 for the small bottle at our September 5, 2026 check. Its Drug Facts label reads relief of occasional constipation with a bowel movement generally in 1 to 3 days, for adults and children 17 and older, with 16 or under sent to a doctor and a 7 day limit. Amazon Basic Care ClearLax is the same PEG 3350 in a larger size at $15.73; MiraLAX's own large bottle is $14.29.

How long does MiraLAX take to work?

The MiraLAX Drug Facts label states that it generally produces a bowel movement in 1 to 3 days. It is not a fast laxative. The saline osmotics on this page are labeled 30 minutes to 6 hours, and rectal products are faster still.

Is ClearLax the same as MiraLAX?

Both are polyethylene glycol 3350 powder for solution with the same Drug Facts lines: 1 to 3 days, 17 and older, 16 or under ask a doctor, not more than 7 days. Neither Amazon listing states its weight on the title, so compare the gram counts on the listing pages before choosing; at our check the MiraLAX large bottle was cheaper than ClearLax.

Can a child take MiraLAX?

The MiraLAX and ClearLax labels direct adults and children 17 years of age and older and say ask a doctor for children 16 or under. A pediatrician may name PEG 3350 for a child, and that instruction governs. The children's osmotic with its own label is the Pedia-Lax saline chewable, with age bands on the box.

How long can you take an osmotic laxative?

PEG 3350 labels say do not use for more than 7 days. Saline laxative labels say not more than 1 week unless a doctor directs. Both are for occasional constipation; constipation that outlasts the label's limit is a clinician's conversation.

What is the difference between PEG 3350 and magnesium laxatives?

Both are osmotic. PEG 3350 is a non-absorbable powder labeled 1 to 3 days with no kidney, magnesium or sodium warnings. Magnesium hydroxide and magnesium citrate are saline osmotics labeled 30 minutes to 6 hours whose labels say ask a doctor with kidney disease or on a magnesium-restricted diet. Days versus hours, and a clean label versus a warning list.

Is MiraFAST the same as MiraLAX?

No. MiraFAST is a saline laxative soft chew from the same house, labeled fast acting and stimulant free; it is not PEG 3350, and it carries a saline's warnings. MiraLAX is the PEG 3350 powder labeled 1 to 3 days.

Osmotic laxative or stool softener?

Different mechanisms for the longer run. PEG 3350 holds water in the bowel, 1 to 3 days on the label. Docusate lets water into the stool as it forms, 12 to 72 hours on the label, and is the product named for avoiding strain. Clinicians name both; our best stool softeners guide covers the docusate side.