It was toilet paper in 2020, this year it’s laxatives that are in short supply as demand has surged globally. Pharmaceuticals, trying to keep up with the demand for polyethylene glycol 3350, the generic name for Miralax, have been running despite the alarming increase in the number of 18-42-year-olds requesting it for purported “medical purposes”.
Though the exact cause of this uptick in demand is unclear, some health professionals have suggested that it’s related to the rise of #GutTok on social media, which has incorrectly been prescribing laxative use as a healthy dietary component or to reduce fat. Eating habits and reported eating disorders have also been contributory factors.
During the pandemic, individuals across the globe have had to suffer changes to their diets due to food shortages, or the lack of variety available, which has increased people’s intake of processed, calorie-dense foods that, in the long run, can produce an irregular and uncomfortable bowel movement.
Though polyethylene glycol 3350 can help with occasional constipation problems with no long-term care, health professionals have warned against its overuse. Patients are being advised to look to alternative methods such as dietary changes in which more fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains are added to the diet in order to naturally regulate the digestive system as opposed to potentially damaging laxatives.
“The truth is that many of the people who are using laxatives to deal with constipation are simply seekers of one-click solutions,” says Dr. Kaushal Prakash, a leading gastroenterologist.
The pharmaceutical market was already facing a shortage in laxatives before the pandemic, now with the number of people over the age of 65 drastically increasing year on year that shortage is only likely to widen further.
It goes without saying, that this epidemic has highlighted the pain points of numerous industries, and the pharma industry is no different. Healthcare professionals and researchers have predicted that if laxative production does not catch up with demand, it could result in some serious health problems, most notably malnourishment and dehydration.
Given the current state of health across the world, it is important that the large laxative producers ramp up production and do their best to meet the growing demands, for not only the sake of the customers, but the health of the world.
