Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate and Pain: What Users Say

• swa...
• June 25, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "Although the ease of use is there by having to drink less of it compared to other preps, it was nauseating, thick, and awful. I had very bad lower belly pain, which I associated with the prep, and so did the healthcare professionals at the colonoscopy facility. Up to 48 hours later, I had barely any urine output and still horrendous lower belly pain, bloating, tenderness, and difficulty walking, sleeping, or sitting without pain. Perhaps 60 hours out now and beginning to have more urine output, but still not fully. The pain has lessened, but still, the lower belly is extremely tender to touch. The urine has a foul odor. I would not recommend this prep at all, and I think healthcare professionals have to be made aware of these side effects, especially if they are common, so they do not prescribe this horrible and debilitating prep."

• Noe...
• March 23, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I am a healthy 54-year-old who put off the colonoscopy. I remember taking a liquid for a test when pregnant, and it was horrible. I don’t drink soda/pop at all. My procedure was at 12:30. I tried to get an earlier one because I had read I might get hungry. I took the Clenpiq at 5 pm as directed. I was so, so surprised that I could drink it so easily. It wasn’t yummy, but it was sweet, and I drank it quickly. It worked great. No nausea, no pain, just worked. I only had one trip that I had to race to the bathroom and sort of dripped as I waited too long. Not to be gross, but it felt like I was peeing from my butt. I woke up at 7 am the next morning. I took the second bottle with ease again. Not as much in my system to get out. I had no trips to the bathroom during the night and slept well. I feared I’d be hungry, as the week before, I ate a lot on vacation. I was not famished at all. The worst part of my prep was that I had broth for lunch the day before."

• Nev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 19, 2023

For Bowel Preparation "Followed instructions explicitly as I’ve had trouble in the past due to hemorrhoids, pain, and bleeding. I was assured this would be more gentle. WRONG. Cost $60 with insurance. Took 2 bottles, 1 at 4 pm and the second at 10. Was up till 3 am and had an 8 am test. I have read where others have had quite an easier time, but not me. I was given a steroid rectal cream to ease the pain, but it did not help. The prep did clean me out but had a terrible headache, nausea, bleeding, rectal pain like glass, and explosive episodes. Thank goodness I don’t have to repeat this anytime soon. Two days post-colonoscopy and still nauseous, poor appetite, and bloated. Could be effects of air from colonoscopy, but as this was my 3rd colonoscopy, I don’t remember feeling this ill 2 days post-test. Will not use this again. Rating it 1 due to the terrible side effects even if it did clean me out."

• Jay...
• July 20, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "My first colonoscopy. Easy-to-read bullet points: - Not nearly as bad as I expected it to be. - Taste is very sweet: not terrible. The two servings are easy to get through. - I have emetophobia (scared of vomiting), so I took a Dramamine 1 hour before each dose. I think this (+ staying hydrated) helped. - Didn’t bother leaving the toilet for 3 hours after both doses. The first bowel movements started about 1 hour after the 1st dose, sooner after the 2nd. Was up a few times through the night too. - Mild nausea after the first dose, it went away. Bad bloating after both doses, mostly went away after BMs started. Mild off-and-on headache. - Worst side effect by far is the booty pain. Two words: Liquid fire. Not even aloe wipes stood up to the raw pain, but they helped a little. - I put a step stool in front of the toilet to use as a Squatty Potty, and it helped a lot, highly recommend. 8/10: Overall easy process, about as pleasant as possible, but the taste isn’t great, and the few side effects weren’t fun."

• 1st...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "Not thrilled. I started off with two days of a low-residue diet, then started the liquid diet (mainly watered-down bone broth, Gatorade, and Jello) 24 hours before my colonoscopy. I drank the first Clenpiq bottle at 5 pm as my doctor recommended. The first bottle tasted okay, not great but tolerable. I drank five cups of clear liquid after. No bloating or pain, just some liquidy BMs. Then I drank the second bottle at 9 pm plus four cups of liquid. From about 10 until 4 am, I was up every 30-60 minutes to go to the bathroom. At 4 am, my BMs still were fairly dark and my colon was not clear. I fell asleep until 6, then had to go to the store to buy two boxes of Fleet enemas and figure out how to use them. I wasn’t sure the first one did the trick, so I used the second one. After that, it was clear. My procedure that morning went well, and the doctor said if I hadn’t used the enemas, they would not have been able to do the colonoscopy. I hope there are better preps on the market!"

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2014

For Bowel Preparation "Much more expensive than the Miralax prep. I paid ~$80 out of pocket. I did like the fact that you only drink 10 ounces (split in 2 doses). Then you follow up with clear liquids of your choice. The orange flavor was tolerable. I was instructed to take the 2nd dose at 8 pm. I woke up at 3 pm with almost unbearable stomach cramps. I've had a baby and kidney stones, and the pain rated right up there! This was my 4th colon prep, and I have never had this experience before. I got a thorough cleansing, but I don't know if that sort of pain is worth having this prep."

• Vin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "Prepopik is by far the easiest prep to actually take. Easy to throw back and then chase with 40 oz of whatever clear liquid you can tolerate and enjoy. If you ate normally up until the day of the prep and/or have slow-ish bowels, I would try to start earlier rather than later. I took the first dose at 5, and it took until about 8:30 to start getting real results. The 11 pm dose was still working on and off until 2 am, and I had to get up a couple of times after that. The benefit is that it works slowly and gently. Lots of 'tummy talking' and noises happening, but no pain, bloating, or nausea. Took longer to run clear than past preps, but worth the tolerability!"

• Wag...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2018

For Bowel Preparation "This is my fifth colonoscopy since my diagnosis and tried Prepopik on the advice of a friend. I had no cramps, vomiting, or pain. I drank the required amount of liquid as suggested and then some. I think that is key. It started working in about an hour. It tasted a bit better than the other preps, but the best thing was how little you had to drink. I heard no complaints from the doctor, and when I go back in 3 years, I will use this again."

• Kei...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "Wow, what a positive experience. I ate a soft diet two days before and an all-liquid diet on the day before (as directed). My first drink at 4 p.m. went down so easily, there was so little (5 oz) it was nothing to get down. Within 45 mins, I was off and running. No cramping, no pain at all. At 10 p.m., I drank cup number two, began working right away, still no cramping or any other issues. It was off to bed and the next day off to the doctor. Very clean and great experience, well as great as this type of procedure can be..."

• Zap...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 25, 2015

For Bowel Preparation "For bowel prep, this worked wonderfully. Took the split dose method at 8 pm and 3 am for an early morning procedure. 1st dose chased with 24 oz of water and 16 more oz within the hour, and I was having bowel movements by 45 minutes. I did have to use Vaseline on my second dose as my rear was in a lot of pain. The trick is to eat light for the 2 days prior and a clear liquid diet 1 day before. Don't forget to pound those fluids! I felt really full/bloated, but it made the process go by much faster. Bowels completely clear by 5 am. Doc said the procedure was good and bowls clean. No diarrhea afterward and was able to eat a sandwich after with no problems. Highly recommend!!"

• Hon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 23, 2023

For Bowel Preparation "I’m an extremely anxious person, and I was very much in my headspace about taking this after reading the reviews. But it’s a walk in the park compared to the other preps. Sure, I got slightly nauseous, but I had zero cramping, pain, or violent bowel movements. It was completely manageable. I was the first procedure at 7:00 A.M., so I took my doses at 3 pm and 9 pm the day before. I was asleep by 12:30 A.M. and slept the remainder of the night. I had a successful colonoscopy with a good report."

• Col...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2017

For Bowel Preparation "Prepopik is the way to go for colonoscopy prep. Last time I had to drink the 64 ounces of Golightly, which was horrible! Sickening taste that made me want to vomit, chills, aches and pains, and just plain horrible. Prepopik was a piece of cake! Starting 7 days prior to the procedure by cutting out high-fiber foods, nuts and seeds until the day before the procedure when I went on a liquid diet of basically popsicles, jello, and Sprite Zero. This was probably the worst part of my prep this time simply because I was hungry! Started using the Prepopik at 6:00 pm the night before my procedure, following the instructions in the box, and it worked wonderfully without all the other issues! Doc said it cleaned my colon very well too, so I don't have to go back for 10 years!"

• Nig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 14, 2018

For Bowel Preparation "I had great hopes for this prep based on lots of good reviews. However, let me just say when you look at the Clenpiq side effects, bleeding of the rectum, rectal pain, anal bleeding are right at the top. Let’s just say it’s 12:40 am and Clenpiq feels like I'm basically pouring acid on a fire. Truly the most miserable prep I’ve done (and tastes terrible). Next time will do a Miralax/Gatorade combo."

• 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."

• 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."

• Me3...
• July 29, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "Prepopik left me very sore, gassy, and bloated. Would never use again."