Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 3)

• Don...
• September 16, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "This was my first colonoscopy, and I chose Prepopik because it would be easier to drink. I normally have constipation problems, so I was concerned that it would not work. I mixed it very, very well with cold water (3 minutes of mixing) at 4 pm and drank it. It had a nice flavor, like orange Tang. Then I drank the 8 oz of water (one every 30 minutes). I was able to have a BM after 1 hour. Then I had a dozen for the next 3 hours. I was able to go to bed and sleep. No cramping. No nausea. The next morning, I drank the mixture at 3 am and the 8 oz of water (every 30 minutes). I did 4 waters until 6 am because my colonoscopy was at 10:20 am and I was not supposed to have fluids 4 hours before. Prepopik worked great. I would highly recommend it."

• Caf...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 14, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "Clenpiq room temperature. Drank in about three or four gulps straight from the bottle at 7 pm. Started working at 9 pm. Drank five 8 oz glasses of clear peach mango juice. Zero cramping, tummy gurgled a little. Mainly no taste but called cranberry. Also drank from the bottle chilled 24 hrs lemon-lime magnesium citrate at 5 pm. Worst part of Clenpiq was getting the bottle open! Second dose will be at 4 am, followed by 3 8 oz juice. Colonoscopy at 10 am."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I really didn't like the colonoscopy prep previously that included a copious amount of liquid! That was misery for me! I had read the reviews prior to taking Clenpiq and was so worried. Who wants to drink anything that tastes so foul, possibly causing one to barf! I ultimately found it to be not nearly as bad as my brain had made up. Another review said it was like a weak margarita mix, which I definitely noticed. I didn’t taste the cranberry part… I also found it to be a little salty. I used a straw and drank a couple of big swallows at a time and then chased it with Gatorade. Easy enough. The first dose took about 30 minutes to activate. The second dose was almost immediate. I had no bloating nor nausea. It was also easy to drink the clear liquids required following the doses. I had no cramping, so when it was time to “go,” it was literally knocking on the proverbial door, so there’s that… I spent most of the night in and out of the bathroom, but I had a good book to pass the time."

• Jea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I’m very hesitant to drink stuff that doesn’t taste good. I poured the Clenpiq into a glass and stood and stared at it for a couple of minutes, trying to muster the courage to drink it. Then I got out an ice-cold Izze Sparkling Apple to drink in between sips of the Clenpiq. I took a couple sips of the Clenpiq. Awful! Especially bad aftertaste. Finally, I just mixed the Clenpiq with the Izze and was able to finish drinking it. Now I was worried it wouldn’t work since I mixed it, but it did start to work in half an hour. I didn’t feel any nausea or cramping. I’d probably use this again in the future as long as I can mix it with an Izze. By itself, I can’t stand the taste."

• Bob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "Like many commenters, I was apprehensive going into my first colonoscopy. And, like many commenters, I need not have been. Followed the prep instructions, and at 5 PM drank the first bottle. Sweet and almost clinical tasting, if that makes sense. Took about 90 minutes to start. No nausea, no cramping, and no real dire urgency. By 10 PM I was mostly done for the night and slept well. Had to take the second dose at 4:30 AM, and that one was a little harder to get down, but not bad. Went back to bed for an hour and then had to use the bathroom a few times. I did have a bit of a headache when I got to the place for the procedure, but I'm not sure if it was from lack of my coffee that morning, slight dehydration (although I drank a little more than instructed), or the Clenpiq itself."

• San...
• November 29, 2018

For Bowel Preparation "The taste was pretty horrible. I hate sweets, and it has a VERY sweet taste that lingers. I had to dilute it with seltzer to make it even mildly palatable. Other than that, it was very gentle. No cramping. Cleaned everything out very well."

• The...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2015

For Bowel Preparation "3rd colonoscopy. Cost $65 after insurance! First dose at 6 pm. Very palatable. Drank 5 cups of liquid as instructed. Medicine started working within an hour, but the trips were very spaced out. By 10 pm dose, I was nowhere near 'running clear.' Was supposed to drink 3 more cups by 12, but only managed 2. Still slow going - in the bathroom every hour right up to the procedure. Needless to say, I was exhausted. I told the doc I wasn't sure I was cleaned out, but after the procedure, she said it was okay (and I'm cleared for 5 years!). But - terrible cramps after the procedure. Asked my husband to stay near because I thought I'd faint from the pain. And 24 hours after dose 1, I'm still prepping. Food is going right through me. Never again. Drink tons of water if you try it."

• JPF...
• May 21, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I told my doctor I wanted the same thing he prescribed for me during my last colonoscopy six years ago. He said I could still use that, which was MiraLAX, but he recommended Clenpiq. When I went to get it from the pharmacy, I was told it was $169. I’m on Medicare, and I have supplemental insurance as well, but I was still going to have to pay that much. I almost decided to get the MiraLAX. However, since the prep time for the Clenpiq is less than for the MiraLAX, I decided to get the Clenpiq. However, after I purchased it, I went online and started reading the reviews. I was terrified. I’ve never had an issue with the prep previously, but some of the reviews for Clenpiq were way too frightening. I’m a 66-year-old man, and I only weigh 135 pounds, so I was concerned that there might be cramping and nausea, which I never had previously. I almost decided to get the MiraLAX anyway. However, I ended up taking the Clenpiq and had no issues whatsoever. I’m glad I stuck with it."

• Fed...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "7/13/2022, my wife is having her colonoscopy tomorrow, and she is literally about to pass out from taking this stuff. It was $85 of hell she is experiencing. 1. The taste is terrible. 2. She is cramping and getting chills. 3. Her stomach is in knots. I had mine done 2 years ago, and my doctor prescribed for me 3 tablets of Dulcolax. Then take Miralax at 6 pm to start. This Clenpiq is awful and expensive just to get sick and crap."

• Lor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I was absolutely terrified and a wreck with worry for 2 weeks before the colonoscopy. It was all for nothing. Clenpiq is amazing. I didn't think the taste was bad at all. I followed the directions to the letter and had NO nausea, cramps, or vomiting. It was gentle and barely fazed me. Several trips to the bathroom, not super urgent, flushed me out completely. The first bottle took 90 minutes to 'kick in,' and the second bottle took about an hour. Colonoscopy itself went great, hospital staff was super nice, I have no recollection of it -- came out of anesthesia feeling good. The worst part of the entire thing was the liquid diet the day before -- I was starving and weak but got through it. I know everyone's different, but for me, Clenpiq was truly a miracle drug, and I will definitely use it without hesitation if I have to do this again. Insurance partially paid, and my cost was $50. So worth it!"

• JRW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I was prescribed this med for a routine colonoscopy. For 2 days prior to prep day, I ate a light, low-residue diet. Then, on prep day, nothing but clear liquids. When it came time to take Clenpiq at around 4 pm, I was surprised at how NOT terrible it was. I alternated swigs of it with sips of orange Pedialyte, and it went down just fine. Flavor-wise, it’s hard to describe. But, basically, it’s super sweet at first, with a salty aftertaste. It started working about 20 mins later, which was surprisingly fast, but it was very gentle. No cramping or explosive BMs, etc. I also had no nausea or headache. I was in and out of the bathroom until about 10 pm, and then I fell asleep. Woke up at 4 am and repeated the process. By 6 am, I was producing clear, pale yellow stools, and was good to go. My doc said my colon was totally clear. I can highly recommend Clenpiq as a bowel prep and will happily use it again when I go back in 7 years!"

• Dam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 15, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "48-year-old male - Not sure what these other folks are talking about. Great experience overall with this prep. First colonoscopy, so I was nervous and researched everything. Drinking only a small bottle (5 oz) of something not pleasant is a win! It doesn't taste bad. It's not candy, it's medicine. Make sure you eat the low-fiber diet they recommend. Who doesn't like carbs?!?! Ha. Then for the liquid-only day, I had jello cups, chicken broth, 7-Up, canned water, and Powerade. I had a 7 am arrival time, so I drank the first bottle at 4:30 pm. Had a BM about 1.5 hours later. Then maybe four small ones (one every 20 minutes). Never felt rushed to the bathroom. It was gentle. Stopped at 7:30. Rested and drank the next one at 10:30, worked faster, a little more aggressively, but never felt too rushed or anything. Only felt one crampy moment the entire time. Rest was smooth and as expected. Finished by 2 am. I would mix my Powerade and water for the cups after each bottle. My pics were excellent, and the doc said it was great."

• jca...
• December 8, 2017

For Bowel Preparation "I have had many colonoscopies, and this was the worst prep I ever used. None are pleasant, but for me, this is the worst. Took the first packet at 2:00 pm. It took an hour to start working and produced several loose bowel movements and lots of cramping and nausea. Took the second dose 6 hours later at 8:00 pm. Had a loose b.m. within 15 minutes and then nothing until four hours later after lots of cramping and bloating. I have consumed way more liquid than the instructions say to, and it is now 3:00 AM and I am still not clean. My scope is scheduled for 11 AM, and my experience tells me there is no way I will be clean by then. I STRONGLY ADVISE you to not use this."

• mcq...
• September 25, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "Horrible experience! This was the recommended prep for a colonoscopy. Took it as directed, including the lighter diet three days before. Taste was tolerable-that is the only positive I can give. This was so toxic to my bowels, I was still going as they were getting ready to take me in for the procedure. I have had trouble with stomach, cramping, nausea, and have been on Bentyl (for IBS, which I NEVER had prior to this colonoscopy). I am still having issues and it is 2 1/2 months since I had it done. Insist on a different prep."

• Nob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "Good experience. I don't get some of these overly dramatic 'worst thing in the whole world' reviews. Taste was honestly not that bad at all. Pleasant berry flavor… and I HATE cranberry juice… slight (SLIGHT) aftertaste that pretty much disappeared after required water afterwards and a cup of lime jello. No cramping or bloating, no 'OMGOSH' urgency. Be sure to hit their website for a coupon that can bring the cost down as low as $40. Mine was $40! I'd do it again without hesitation. Maybe it helps that I remember my father having to drink a gallon jug of prep back around 2010ish and what he went through. This was a walk in the park for this 48-year-old!"

• Twe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I had a pretty good experience with this prep. I am 5'1" tall and weigh 117 lbs. Per the instructions given to me by my doctor, I had a light breakfast of cereal, then had jello for lunch and drank apple juice and water. Drank the first bottle at 7 pm. It tasted okay, but I chilled it for an hour and drank it with a straw in about 4-5 sips and chased each sip with apple juice. I drank the required liquids. I did have some cramping but did not have to go to the toilet until 10 pm. (I must have a slow system) and finished up around 11 pm. The next dose/bottle was taken at 7 AM, 6 hours before my procedure. I was surprised to see that there was still more poop to get rid of. I drank the required liquids and was totally cleaned out. I am glad the bottles of prep were small. All in all, it worked like it was supposed to. Oh, for some reason, my insurance did not cover the prep, but the doctor's office was able to get me a sample, so I did not pay for it."

• Rob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I think this was the best prep. Although I was super annoyed at the price, it has been the best experience, and I have regular colonoscopies. The best ideas were in the previous reviews - use a straw and have a Lifesaver or Jolly Rancher to combat the severely salty flavor, and don’t stop drinking until halfway through, then suck on a Jolly Rancher until the bad taste is gone and go again until it’s done. I used 8-ounce water bottles and drank one every 15 minutes and had no cramps, no nausea, and no passing out. I have had the worst time with preps before this one and truly thought I would die in the past, but this was by far the best."

• Deb...
• January 14, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "This was my first colonoscopy prep, and I found it to be a relatively painless experience. I ate normally (healthy) up until the day before, then switched to a clear liquid diet. Frankly, I didn’t read the instructions until 2 days before, so I didn’t know to eat low fiber, etc., in the days leading up to the prep. Anyway, the taste is very sweet but easy to chug, then chase with Gatorade. I took the first dose at about 5 pm, it started working by 7 pm, and I was mostly done within the hour. No cramping, nausea, or pain. Second dose at 4 am, which worked within 30 minutes and basically just did the “cleaning.” It was over quickly and just as painless. I stay pretty well hydrated in general and also am very regular, so that may have contributed to the ease of my experience. I’d suggest keeping some wet wipes and Vaseline nearby to help with the inevitable irritation. No issues at all after the procedure."

• Mrs...
• March 4, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I had no abdominal cramping with this, and the flavor was not the worst thing I ever drank. It didn’t fully clear out my colon, but enough to go ahead with the procedure. Still having diarrhea after the colonoscopy, with some cramping."

• Tom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "Recently took Clenpiq for my colonoscopy prep. It worked really well. The taste is sweet, but tolerable. A few hours after my first dosage, I started experiencing bowel movements. I had no cramping or bloating for the 1st and 2nd dosages. I drank the recommended cups of water for each dosage, which helped clear my bowel in a timely manner. I would recommend this prep."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "Didn't work for a very long time. Took over six hours after the first bottle to kick in, which I took at 3:30 pm, so was up pretty much all night once the process started. Since it was clear that this was going to take a long time, I took the second bottle 9 hours after the first but earlier than my doctor's instructions stated. Once it was working, I was fine and didn't have any cramping or discomfort, but I don't think I was truly ready and done with the prep until right before I had to leave for my appointment at 8:00 am. For whatever reason, my body didn't react to Clenpiq very quickly, so knowing this, I would time the bottles differently if I had to do it again."

• Ben...
• November 3, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I haven’t had the Clenpiq nor the second procedure yet, but want to tell you that I had a colonoscopy 3 months ago using Suprep for prep. I had so much cramping that I ended up in the ER, but did go and got done with the procedure, which, since I haven’t completed the second bottle, the test wasn’t clear. Changed doctor who has prescribed Clenpiq and assured me I would not have a similar experience. I will update this when I go through the procedure after Dec 13th."

• jrs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2023

For Bowel Preparation "Had my third colonoscopy this morning, my first with Clenpiq. This prep was my least 'favorite.' The middle-of-the-night second dose (actually 2 a.m. for a 10:00 a.m. procedure) has two drawbacks. First, it interrupts your sleep. Second, I had a run attack in the car on the way to the facility at 9:00 a.m. and had to make an emergency detour to my office restroom, which fortunately was around the corner. I never had morning cramps with over-the-counter preps that have to be completed earlier in the evening. Also, it has magnesium, which is bad for the kidneys. My doctor didn't catch that from my CKD history. I learned after the fact. Miralax does not have magnesium. Clenpiq water dosing seems to be about the same as Miralax. Cramps from Clenpiq lasted all day, although no actual movements after the procedure. And much higher cost. The positives were not too bad tasting, and the bowel was clean. Next time I'll be back to using Miralax."

• kan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 20, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I took Clenpiq at 4:30 PM, then 12:30 AM second bottle. Colonoscopy scheduled 9 AM. No cramping. No bowel movement. Procedure canceled."

• Erm...
• March 4, 2018

For Bowel Preparation "Taking this was fine. The procedure was okay. I am having diarrhea for days after the procedure. Pain and cramping before bowel movement. Will not take again."