Free Republic

"IT'S CRAZY TO THINK THAT OUR COLLECTIVE BOWEL DYSFUNCTION PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN SO BAD THAT WE'RE LITERALLY RUNNING OUT OF STOOL SOFTENERS." Laxatives are having a major cultural renaissance — so much so, in fact, that soaring demand for the drugs is reportedly causing a national shortage. As The Wall Street Journal reports, the US is experiencing a scarcity of polyethylene glycol 3350, the pharmaceutical powering name-brand products like Miralax and Glycolax. As for why? It's complicated. Per the report, there are several suspected culprits for the rising laxative demand. On the one hand, the American population is aging, and...

So many people in the US are using and abusing laxatives that it’s caused a national shortage. Just like many health-related problems of today's world, the dwindling stockpiles of pooping pills can be explained by a mixture of terrible diets, questionable internet trends, the nation’s aging population, and strains on mental health. The US is currently experiencing a scarcity of polyethylene glycol 3350, the prime compound found in many big brand laxative products like MiraLAX and Glycolax Some pharmaceutical companies have even reportedly started building new factories, in part, to boost the production of the sought-after compound. Polyethylene glycol eases...

People who regularly use laxatives may have more than a 50% increased risk of developing dementia over people who do not use laxatives, according to a study. Researchers also found that people who used only osmotic laxatives, a type of laxative that attracts water to the colon to soften stool, had an even greater risk. Other types of laxatives are bulk-forming, stool-softening, and stimulating. However, the study does not prove that laxatives cause dementia. It only shows an association. Feng Sha, Ph.D.: "Regular laxative use may change the microbiome of the gut, possibly affecting nerve signaling from the gut to...

A 54-year-old Florida man has been sentenced to 14 months in prison after an investigation found that he was putting laxatives in his son’s daily medication. According to Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, Craig Alan Ripple, 54, was found guilty of felony child abuse in this case on September 8, 2022. An investigation into a potential child abuse case in August 2019, when the child’s mother reported that Ripple had been tampering with her 14-year-old son’s medication, removing items belonging to the victim and his sister, and other odd behaviors. The mother was able to provide FCSO with the tampered medication...

It comes after the organisation was mocked last month a ruling that led to a ban on claims that drinking water can prevent dehydration. Despite a long held belief that prunes, traditionally served with custard, are good for improving bowel function, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has ruled this is not the case. Its experts said there was "insufficient" evidence of a link between the dried plums and normal bowel function after looking at three studies of prune consumption. Sir Graham Watson MEP has now challenged an EU Commissioner to a prune-eating contest after his food safety committee ruled...

A 25-year-old mom in Minnesota was charged last week with one count of felony-level child endangerment that could result in substantial harm or death, after authorities discovered she allegedly gave her 9-month-old son laxatives to inflict starvation. Authorities discovered that Megan Lee Kafer of Lewiston, Minn., who is scheduled to appear in court on the charge in mid-December, had searched the web on her phone for ways to poison a baby, including: “MiraLax overdose,” “Can a doctor tell if you overdose on MiraLax,” “How to make a baby really sick,” “Mom gets 20 years to life for poisoning son with...

Bad Cupcakes Two seventeen year old students in Metairie (LA) were busted for a prank gone wrong. On August 29th the two high school seniors allegedly dropped off a pan of laxative-laced cupcakes in the teachers lounge. The school principal removed the contaminated treat before any teacher could sample it. Both students were booked with mingling harmful substances, punishable by up to two years in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000. Both are fighting the criminal charges and their expulsion.