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

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 14, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "Do not use this product. I was prescribed this for my 5th bowel cleaning prior to the procedure. Never had a problem before with different products, some were over the counter. After taking Clenpiq, I experienced shaking, like I drank 4 espressos. Bowel movements did not happen for hours. Headache later in the night. Took the second dose 1 1/2 hours earlier than prescribed and finally got cleaned out enough to have the procedure."

• Ren...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2018

For Bowel Preparation "My body is sodium sensitive. I took the first dose as prescribed, and within 15 minutes, I had a splitting headache and my blood pressure went up to 190/80. When I called the doctor's service, they warned not to take the second dose and said that the upper and lower exams could not be done with pressure that high and for me to call my primary physician if the numbers didn't go down."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "The taste of Clenpiq is putrid, sort of sweet and acidic - hard to describe. It has a terrible lingering aftertaste. I had to drink it with a straw and take sips of Gatorade in between. The bottles are small, though. Took the first dose at 5:00 pm, and it didn't kick in until about 6:30 pm. It wasn't a super urgent need to use the bathroom but more like a stomach ache that I could feel coming on gradually. I did experience some chills with the first dose, but was done by 8:30. I did have to get out of bed at about 1:30 for another bathroom trip. I was able to sleep until 5:30 am when my second dose was due. I did have a terrible headache and some nausea following the second dose. Also, it still continues to work 5 hours after my procedure."

• Col...
• May 3, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I'm a sixty-year-old male in good overall health. This is my fourth colonoscopy and the first with Clenpiq. I used the split-dose method. My results are mixed. This prep did its job, and I enjoyed not having to drink such large amounts of foul-tasting liquid as with other preps. However, the first dose gave me a moderate headache and chills for a few hours. I also experienced a feeling of malaise during that time. Not at all pleasant. The first dose started working after about two hours and lasted for about three hours before I settled down and went to sleep. My procedure was in the afternoon, so I waited until morning for the second dose. No headache or chills, so a better experience. The second dose worked in about an hour. I think I will use Clenpiq again, but as always, hope for something even better."

• CJC...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 16, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I am a 49-year-old female, 5'2", 115 lbs. I had my first colonoscopy yesterday. I was scared after reading horror stories. I think everyone is different; for me, the experience was totally fine. My colonoscopy was at 8 am. The day prior, I had 2 cups of black coffee and nothing but water. I did NOT follow a special diet prior, oops. It didn’t matter! Took first dose at 5 pm straight from the bottle (no straw). It tasted fine. I drank cold Aquafina water (17 oz), 2 1/2 bottles over the next hour. It took 150 minutes for the first movement. It was dark brown liquid. I had 5 more similar episodes until 10:30 pm. No cramping. At 1 am, I took the next dose followed by water. It was harder to get down because I had so much fluid in my system. After an hour, I had a few more episodes, mostly light brown, then pale yellow, then clear. Last movement was 6:30 am. Worst part was headache; I should have taken Tylenol! Biggest issue: I couldn’t open the bottles! Hubby had to. It’s doable! Good luck!"

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I am a 29-year-old female who had to use Clenpiq. The first bottle was just fine, I had started my liquid diet an extra day early, and I drank it just fine. It started working about 45 minutes after drinking it. I went about 15 times and drank the fluid in between, like my doctor recommended. My doctor also recommended that I drink my second bottle at 8 pm. After this bottle, I felt terribly sick: nauseated, a TERRIBLE headache, stomach cramping, and I was up all night trying not to vomit. Overall, the doctor said I was very clean and things were easy to see, but I would probably only drink one bottle or do something different the next time. The terrible headache followed me home after my procedure and kept me up the night after. It was relieved by nothing, and I'm pretty sure I had hypermagnesemia. I am only 140 lbs too, I think the generic dosage coming in two bottles was a little much for my body weight. But anyway, it did its job."

• Bri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 6, 2015

For Bowel Preparation "The stuff is nuclear. I hated it, but it cleaned me out big time. Second dose gave me a huge headache, nausea, dry heaves, dizziness, sweats, chills, and fear. I was totally cleaned out. Third colonoscopy, but first and last time on this."

• JPa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 2, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "The most disgusting tasting stuff I've ever put in my mouth, it said cranberry. I couldn't even compare it to any taste I've had before. The schedule that you are told to do this on is ridiculous, waking up in the middle of the night to take it! And I also had one of the worst headaches of my life. The whole experience with Clenpiq was so bad I told my gastroenterologist to NEVER prescribe that for me again."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "Taste horrible. This is my 3rd colonoscopy over 4 years. I’ve done the cleanouts before with different solutions, this one was not an easy one to go down. It tasted horrible. The cranberry flavoring makes it worse. Good luck to you. I drank a lot of water before and during, so luckily no cramping but did get a horrible headache."

• BcO...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "1st colonoscopy and was terrified of the prep, but it was pleasant. I'll break down my review by taste, dose 1, and dose 2. Taste: Loved it. I don't understand the bad reviews about taste or why people need a straw or to sip on a lemon. I did not need those. The cranberry taste was great! My suggestion for your 1st time: Test it out by first taking a sip without the straw or lemon. Also, some people refrigerate it to make it taste better. It cannot be refrigerated. It tastes fine warm, a little salty taste, but 90% sweet. Dose 1: This was harder for me of the 2 doses. I finished the bottle within 30 mins, started pooping 15 min later, and then pooped for 4 hours. I got nauseous, threw up, had a headache, and had bad sweats, but that's not Clenpiq's fault. Those are normal side effects of any prep. Don't blame Clenpiq. Dose 2: Started at 6 AM. Bottle done by 6:30. Clear liquids done by 8:30 AM. No side effects! Really pleasant. Result: My diarrhea was yellow as expected. The colonoscopy went well."

• JSW...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "Followed the low-fiber diet for two days, then liquids only the day of prep. Had the first bottle of Clenpiq at 5 pm, followed it up with a flavored drink so its awful taste would be quickly out of my mouth. It started working in 45 minutes and continued for 4 hours. At 2 am, I had the second one. Not much happened until 4 am. Was clear enough for colonoscopy. But now the headache and diarrhea won’t stop. The BMs are worse than during pre-colonoscopy prep. Thankfully, no polyps, so I don’t have to do it again for 10 years."

• Not...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 22, 2023

For Bowel Preparation "Took a long time to work. Developed headaches. Wouldn’t recommend."