Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes for Bowel Preparation User Reviews (Page 4)

• mount...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 12, 2021

Plenvu (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "Beware! The first dose wasn't too terrible to get down at 5 PM. By 5 AM, when I woke to start the second dose, I had a terrible headache that I thought was sinus. It only got worse from there. I started drinking the dose and kept feeling worse: headache, nausea, weakness, cramps. After about 1/4 of the dose, I became violently ill, which only intensified the bad side effects. By 6 AM, my husband got my neighbor, a trauma surgeon, to come over and check in on me. She suggested the emergency room. I was happy to go, my symptoms and weakness were scaring me. I'm 65, but I've had several colonoscopies and not gone off the rails like this, and I'm super fit and an avid mountain biker. It took about 4 days before I felt strong and normal. The worst part is, I still have to get a colonoscopy! I won't use Plenvu, but I'm still terrified!"

• Byrdsng
• February 4, 2014

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "Certainly does what it is supposed to do. I read all the previous reviews and I was terrified to take it. Finally, I gathered up the courage and did MoviPrep shooters for happy hour. No cramping. No side effects other than what it is supposed to do. Yes, it tastes a little like lemon Pledge. It isn't something I would choose to drink for fun, but it isn't as bad."

• Jano
• June 10, 2019

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "Hey guys, it's not meant to taste like Kool-Aid! Having said that, the initial intake of the liter was fine, didn't really taste all that bad. But the more you have, the worse it gets. Coming up on my last 250ml, it took me nearly half an hour gaining up the courage to drink it all. Through the 90 minutes of drinking, I felt nauseous in waves. Took it at 7 PM, and by 9 PM, I was on the toilet like a fire hose. Was in the middle of an Overwatch game and had to leave because it literally went 0-100 in seconds. Spent the next hour on the toilet with my laptop just watching videos, got up for a bit, and now I'm back guessing that I'm finishing off the last parts. Make sure to have a water bottle with you, as you will get dehydrated and maybe get a headache. You may experience some indigestion and some unpleasant gurgling. For me, the worst part of it all was actually drinking the prep, which wasn't really all that bad till the last bits, just take your time."

• Maida
• June 29, 2015

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "I never review meds, but felt I had to this time. So many scary and daunting reviews online for this medicine had me absolutely dreading my colonoscopy prep. Honestly, this prep was totally a breeze. I chilled it first, used a straw, and bit a wedge of lemon before each dose. No problems getting it all down within less than ten minutes for each liter (split dose regimen). I have a narrowed esophagus and sometimes have a hard time drinking that much even when it's something I really enjoy--so I was surprised that my worst fears didn't come true. My advice is to 'just do it.' My exam went great, and now onto the victory meal!"

• EDano
• December 7, 2019

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "I had to take 2 1L doses of MoviPrep Orange to prepare for my first colonoscopy. I was very nervous about it, but it really wasn’t that bad. The MoviPrep tasted like salt water with an orange flavor, and the bowel movements were quite gentle. I started my first dose at 6:00 PM, and my second dose was at 10:00 PM. They both took 2-2.5 hours to complete (rather than the recommended hour) because of toilet trips and indigestion (which I was already prone to). The second dose was much more tolerable because we refrigerated the mix between glasses and stirred it so that the salt didn’t gather at the bottom. I had frequent bowel movements from 6:30 PM to 2:00 AM, and they were starting to come through clear just after I began the second dose. It was half-hourly to hourly after 2:00 AM, up until I went into the procedure room at about 8:20 AM. I recommend keeping the mixture chilled and stirred, and wash it down with something else if you need to - I chose apple juice. Good luck."

• Nettie...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 8, 2017

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "It's been very helpful to read these reviews as I lay on the sofa at 8:30 a.m., just resting from the 10th toilet visit following round 2 of MoviPrep's effects. Yes, the taste could be better, and I found it made me feel very bloaty, but once the cleanout has taken its course, it does stop and everything calms down. It's very effective, and if you have to take it prior to a procedure, keep thinking it's like decorating a room. The better the preparation, the better the end result. I would mention the wisdom of using copious amounts of Vaseline or Sudocrem to stop soreness in the nether regions. Ouch! Good luck to anyone needing a colonoscopy, etc., in the coming days!"

• Marcy
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 23, 2023

Plenvu (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "This was a traumatizing experience. Never, ever again. Zero taste improvement from other preps. The worst was the profound incontinence. After the first dose, it went on for 4 hours, but I had 5-10 seconds to make it to the toilet about every 10 minutes. After the second dose the morning of the procedure, I didn't even have a three-second warning and it went on for over 5 hours - past the time of my appointment. Going every 3-5 minutes with no warning. I had to line the car seat with towels and change clothes twice in the clinic restroom just to get into the exam. And that doesn't even address the severe perineal damage from the acid or the extreme dehydration and headache from being unable to drink anything for 3 hours before the appointment. Nothing like crapping your pants in the waiting room full of people waiting for their loved ones or cleaning the floor of the clinic restroom. Probably formulated for 300 lb men. It needs to be adjusted down for people who are only 140 lbs or less."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 19, 2024

Plenvu (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "So many negative reviews here! I remember reading this before my procedure and feeling horribly apprehensive about the whole business. Of course, nobody really wants to spend an evening drinking laxatives and sitting on the toilet! But we know that colonoscopy and gastroscopy are there to save lives, and you can't have it done without a clean bowel! Plenvu tastes fairly horrible, but really it's nowhere near as bad as most of these reviews make out. Yes, it's salty, fruit-flavoured, and over-sweetened - but is it really that bad? Just a couple of glasses to get through in an hour, and you can wash each mouthful down with something you do like. For me, the trick was to make sure that it's very cold and add a lot of ice. Use a straw and sip from the very top of the glass through the ice. Don't try to do it all too quickly - the best way to avoid nausea is to use the whole hour - mentally divide it into six, then drink one every 10 minutes using a watch! It's very effective!"

• Frosty
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2019

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "Tastes pretty awful but managed okay with a straw. It didn’t make me nauseous at all. I had to wait around an hour for the first trip to the toilet (I took the first dose at 5 PM and finished the first liter by 7 PM). The only snag was, although it tells you the trips to the toilet should finish pretty soon after you stop taking the stuff, mine went on all night! For this reason, I only downed one glass of the second liter in the morning and chucked the rest down the sink. Colonoscopy was at 1:30 PM and was done with no problem. Three cheers for our fabulous NHS (I’m in the UK) - it cost me nothing at all. I would definitely use it again. It’s not as scary as some people make out."

• MsChr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2024

Plenvu (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "Plenvu offers a unique twist with its mango and fruit punch flavors, providing a more palatable experience. The affordability at $40, even without insurance coverage, makes it accessible. Following the directions led to a successful colon cleanse, ensuring a clean slate for the colonoscopy. However, the notable saltiness might be a drawback for some. Additionally, caution is needed, as the product induced severe dehydration despite increased fluid intake. Ultimately, the product delivered on its primary purpose, but users should be mindful of potential dehydration risks."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 24, 2016

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "My 17-year-old son is having a colonoscopy tomorrow and is having a horrible time getting this down. I am on my way to go get him a lemon to see if he sucks on it and then swallows the solution, if it would make it any easier. He got the first liter down, but the second liter is a nightmare. Some company needs to come up with something better."

• marga...
• March 20, 2019

Plenvu (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "I'm a fit, healthy 81-year-old who has had four colonoscopies with no problems on Glycoprep. At the pre-procedure appointment, told Plenvu was better. I religiously followed the prep instructions. Commenced Dose 1 at 6 PM, by 8/8:30 PM my bowels worked. Started to vomit and shake, drank more liquids. Rang the after-hours doctor. Later called an ambulance, vomiting and shaking continued. About 1 AM rang after-hours doctor again. By 2:30 AM, still vomiting, hot and shaking. Was driven to the hospital, then a 2-hour wait. Then had a seizure in the waiting room. The next 28 hours are a blank. My family reported a distressing day in emergency with me in an agitated state, sometimes needing two to hold me down. I remained there for four days in the hospital. It was clear that the Plenvu prep had brought on excessive vomiting (5 hours), leading to serious depletion of sodium and electrolytes, etc. In summary, I'm lucky to be alive, my car license gone (due to the seizure), and I still need a colonoscopy. I won't be using Plenvu. Any readers of this review, be warned."

• tmj
• January 27, 2021

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "Started my fast at 9 a.m. Sunday morning. Took the first sachet of MoviPrep at 5 p.m. as per the instructions. Tasted like bitter lemon, to be honest, or even like a sports drink, electrolytes with salt. You can flavor MoviPrep with a cordial if you don't initially like the taste, so maybe source a cordial beforehand, but not blackcurrant flavored. First bowel movement occurred at 7:10 p.m., a gentle feeling, small movement. 7:30 p.m., a large messy movement. This is where the flushable toilet wipes help immensely. This was then followed by a number of smaller bowel movements, but mostly watery. Next MoviPrep taken at 8 p.m. as per the instructions. No more messy movements, just loads of watery ones. This went on until 11:20 p.m. Went to bed when my stomach felt calmer, just before midnight. Woke again at 2:15 a.m. from a stomach cramp feeling, toilet, small bowel movement, again just watery. Back to bed and woke after 8 a.m., and again another very small watery movement. In all, not an unpleasant experience."

• JHano
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 27, 2020

Plenvu (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "I’ll be brief. Plenvu will cause severe burning abdominal pain, vomiting, and chills. This lasted up to 2 1/2 hours with me last night. Also, this prep never fully cleaned me out for my colonoscopy today. The worst prep ever. There are other good preps out there. Plenvu needs to address this finally. Too many complaints!"

• Anony...
• February 10, 2020

Plenvu (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "I give this a 3 because it worked, but at what cost? I essentially gave myself a case of stomach flu for 12 hrs. Strangely, I became very cold after each dose, which the nurse told me is very common. I thought I might get a chance to sleep an hour here or there, but absolutely not. I was still hitting the toilet after arriving at the hospital for my appointment (multiple times). The nausea and dehydration were intense, as I was told not to have any more fluids 4 hrs before the appointment. I see plenty of people have described the taste accurately, so I'll simply say that it takes an iron will to keep it down. Everyone else I've talked to has had great luck with the Miralax & Dulcolax combo. Much cheaper, effective, and better tasting. Why use Plenvu at all?"

• Rambler
• November 13, 2019

Plenvu (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "Got a prescription for Plenvu for a bowel prep - I used a coupon to pay $50 for it, with my insurance covering the rest. It requires less water to consume than others. Taken in 2 parts. Off-putting taste. It's sweet and salty. 2 flavors: mango and fruit punch. Don't know why it can't be unflavored and mixed with Gatorade like Miralax. Took the 1st dose the evening before. I was scheduled for the early afternoon. Had no movement for the entire evening. Woke up the next day and had one. Then I took the 2nd batch. For the next several hours, I needed to stay close to the bathroom. It's a fairly gentle-acting prep. Cleaned me out well, and the doctor was pleased. Note: I also ate very lightly and according to suggestions for 5 days prior. Not sure why a script is necessary or the cost. I've had a previous colonoscopy using Dulcolax and Miralax that worked just as well. Dr. claims this cleans better, but I didn't see it. Wondering if the doctor receives some type of compensation for recommending it."

• Mill
• May 1, 2019

Plenvu (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "Bowel prep: first attempted Pico Prep; vomited 6 hours. Then... Plenvu. Taken at 7 PM. By 7:15, I was off to the toilet. Very quick and very frequent bowel evacuation. But by 10:30, I was in bed. Second dose (2nd dose tastes better) at 4 AM. Slight nausea. Bowel evacuations till 7. Slept lightly between, ready to pounce for the toilet (lol). So although very dehydrating, it did the job quickly, which I found better. Doc said my bowel was VERY clean. He removed a flat polyp; for me, a huge relief- increased risk of bowel cancer as Nan, uncle (died), and Mom had bowel cancer (died) at 43. So although my and my siblings' risk is now increased again, Plenvu’s great bowel cleaning and a great doc have saved me from this flat polyp turning. Highly recommend. Remember all bowel prep is ‘shitty;’ it’s not about the prep... it’s about the saving of your life."

• Justs...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2016

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "Just finished my first 1-liter dose about 2 hours ago. The taste was not as bad as I was afraid of, honestly, the lemon/salty taste reminds me very much of a margarita! Started to work before I was finished drinking it, and already only 2 hours in, I feel pretty cleaned out and the trips to the bathroom, which were at first every five minutes, are now every 15 minutes. I don't have my next dose until 6 a.m. tomorrow, so at this rate, I am reasonably sure I will get some sleep tonight. Some mild cramps, but not bad. With Blue Cross/Blue Shield, my out of pocket was $20. The worst part so far has been the nervousness leading up to my first dose after reading the horror stories on this site. I slept through the night, up at 6 for dose 2, no problems."

• Ariom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2023

Plenvu (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "This was my sixth colonoscopy and my first experience with Plenvu. Although the product reached the desired result, with an "Excellent" on my report, for my bowel prep, I would never recommend it and if I am required to do this again, I will be begging for another brand. If I said this was revolting to swallow, would be an understatement and all the guessing in the world would never indicate, that the flavor of Anti Freeze was either Mango, or Fruit Punch. My best description would be the taste, of the smell of burnt plastic. Holding it down, was a major task, with plenty of positive self talk, to quell the nausea and belly pain. I was exhausted from the trips to the bathroom, right up till the alarm went off for me to leave for the hospital I followed the regime to the letter, 3 days of bland white stuff, leading up to Prep Day, heaps of fluids to enable the prep to work and a gritty resolve to see this through, because I could not deal with a repeat, if this fails."

• pumpfe
• March 28, 2012

GaviLyte-G (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "Just finished the full 4 liters of GaviLyte-G and must say it wasn't all that terrible of an experience. I prepared it the night before and put it in the refrigerator. About 45 minutes before starting my prep, I put it in the freezer and got it as cold as I could without ice forming. I drank it in 8-ounce increments about every 10-20 minutes. Best to drink it through a straw, hold your breath, and gulp it. I always finished the entire 8 ounces in two 'gulps'. I also kept a piece of hard candy in my mouth the entire time, and the taste of that pretty much overtook the awful taste of the liquid. Seems to have worked quite well as all bowel movements are clear. Now to just sit back and enjoy the rest of the day, and get up early and have my procedure."

• Very...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 2, 2018

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "Wow, all that worrying for nothing. The whole process was a piece of cake. I mean seriously, it was such a breeze. Like some have said, the hardest part is being so hungry. Sure, MoviPrep doesn't taste good, but it's not that bad either. It's just very salty and lemony. Does that sound so scary? It's just 4 - 8 oz. cups per dose... Easy. Just suck on a hard candy right after and the aftertaste is gone. Really, nothing to it. I was finished drinking in 45 minutes and in the bathroom 15 minutes later. Just hung out for a half an hour or so with my tablet, and that was mostly it. Maybe 2 or 3 more visits before I went to bed, and I slept great! Didn't like getting up at 4 AM, but no big deal. 2 hours after starting the process, I was back to my normal duties around the house... If my family didn't see me drinking the stuff, they wouldn't have even known. The hospital visit was even easier, and right after I left, I went directly out to eat and had a big steak and baked potato... and it was soooo good!"

• Movip...
• April 29, 2016

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "I have had to have several colonoscopies over the years and have always been given Picolax. I was slightly concerned with the MoviPrep as there was a lot to drink. However, if you pace yourself over, say, an hour, it's fine. Make sure it's cold and maybe suck a Halls menthol sweet with it. It works quickly and much less pain and discomfort than with the Picolax. I had it at 5 PM, went to the toilet a lot up until about 10 PM, then actually had a night's sleep. Next morning the same amount again, toilet for about another 4 hours, then off to the hospital. I seemed to be able to keep more hydrated with this preparation than with the Picolax as I did not feel so rotten and sick. Much more comfortable experience all around."

• Zogel
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2017

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "This is the second time I have had to take MoviPrep since October. After really struggling with the taste the first time around to the point it made me sick. The nurse recommended putting lime cordial in each glass. She also recommended making the prep with flavored water (not red berries). I made it up with lemon and lime flavored water, then chilled it for a few hours. In each glass, I have added the lime cordial and ice. I have used a jumbo straw and had water in a glass just in case. I can honestly say the lime is brilliant. Although there is still a slightly salty taste, it is nowhere near as bad as previously. I have managed the first liter and actually feel I can cope with the next one. I hope this helps."

• Ribena
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2014

MoviPrep (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "I was very skeptical of taking MoviPrep after reading the online reviews, but I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I did take an anti-emetic beforehand, as prescribed by my doctor, and I had no nausea at all. Yes, the prep does taste awful, and whatever you use to help flavor it, you will never want to drink again. But I had no side effects: no cramping, bloating, or nausea. The motions I was able to easily get to the toilet and didn't need to get up in the night. The only side effect I did get was burning towards the end, but I did use lots of Sudocrem. My advice would be to start early and take your time. I started at 2 PM and finished at 8 PM for the two doses."

• Multi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 13, 2016

GoLYTELY (polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes) "Fifth time having the fun of GoLYTELY. I'll share what my pharmacist told me before the first time. Get some hard candy, something you don't normally want, like lemon drops. Suck on the candy while drinking the solution through a straw as quickly as possible. The candy helps to cut the salty taste, and going through a straw makes it much quicker."