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 shortage of polyethylene glycol 3350, the pharmaceutical powering name-brand products like Miralax and Glycolax. As for why? It's complicated. […]
Laxatives are facing shortages at drugstores and supermarkets across the US partly thanks to a questionable new TikTok weight-loss trend that casts old-school stool softeners as "budget Ozempic," doctors told The Wall Street Journal.
It might be time for Americans to start eating more fiber. The U.S. is experiencing a shortage of laxative products, according to a report this week from the Wall Street Journal. One alleged reason for the short supply is extra demand from younger people—an interest apparently fueled by TikTok influencers touting the supposed benefits of laxatives for good gut health.