GoLYTELY and Nausea: What Users Say

• sta...
• February 16, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "This was my second colonoscopy. For my first, the prep was a Miralax prep, this second one was GoLYTELY. I'm an RN, and the difference between the two was markedly different. The GoLYTELY sat in my stomach for the first couple of hours, then it started to work. Too well. I had a couple of accidents without warning. But I'll say this for it: once you begin, you are determined to finish so you don't have to repeat it. There was no real covering the taste, which I compare to salty plastic. I did not experience any nausea. With the Miralax, my tummy actually felt better for a week or so. Not so with the GoLYTELY, which has left me feeling a little inflamed. I think I also cleared better with the Miralax. When it's time to repeat the procedure, I will decline the GoLYTELY prep in favor of the Miralax if possible. Overall, it isn't the end of the world. But this kind of prep is the reason that many people avoid this life-saving procedure."

• Nem...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 15, 2017

For Bowel Preparation "After having two other colonoscopies, I suggest drinking this without any flavoring, it tastes much better that way. Adding the flavor only seems to intensify the salty taste. I divided the drink up in the 4-quart containers and drank 1 at a time-much easier to do. Drink it through a straw. You have less chance of becoming nauseous. I coated my rump as suggested by others who had the prep. It really helped. P.S. Thank you to all the people who offered suggestions, it really helped. I also drank the prep at room temperature and chilled. The only difference was that at room temperature, it was a little bit more salty. If you’ve ever mixed baking soda and water for heartburn, that’s what this prep reminded me of, but actually tasted better. It was not horrible. At the end, I replenished with Gatorade. I also had 3 more clear BM’s the next day, which was the morning of my procedure. So you might want to wear a protective pad or something like Depends or take an extra pair of clothes in case you can’t get to the bathroom fast enough."

• Ace...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I vomited half of the GoLYTELY prep along with most of my insides! Started drinking it at 11:30 am the day before the colonoscopy and got that half down. At 4:00 pm I tried drinking the other half and vomited it all and then some. My friend brought me an anti-nausea suppository after I vomited the anti-nausea pill and managed to get the last quarter of the solution down. Headache, nausea, chills, I feel like I drank rat poison. Never again!"

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 10, 2018

For Bowel Preparation "Ok, it does taste awful. This is what helped... First, hold your nose while you are drinking it. Also, breathe through your mouth. Second, have some Sprite or other drink ready to chase it. Third, have something in which to vomit, because you may vomit. Fourth, be near a toilet. Fifth, have some really soft toilet paper ready. A lot of toilet paper. Overall, it wasn’t the worst thing I have had to do, but it is definitely on the list. I did feel extremely nauseous after and weak. My entire digestive tract felt like it was on fire, and my anus was very sore."

• Fif...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I've used this prep twice: the first time I drank it as prepared in the container and followed the instructions: drink 3L within 3 hours. After about 2 1/2L, the nausea became too much... it felt like my body was refusing to allow the prep to leave my stomach the right way, and I ended up vomiting what seemed like an entire liter. The next morning, I tried to drink the remaining 1L, but again I started vomiting. The next time, I used lemon for the prep and ginger ale to wash my mouth out, and I decided to extend the 3 hours to 4. That helped in giving the prep a tolerable taste, and I didn't feel rushed to gulp the solution, but regardless, after 1 1/2L, my stomach said 'no more' and I began vomiting copious amounts. The next morning, I managed to drink only 2/3L. The fact is, for some, GoLYTELY is just not a viable option - for whatever reason, the body won't tolerate it. With the nausea and headache the next morning, I felt like I had literally poisoned my body. I know I will NEVER use it again."

• Tir...
• May 5, 2017

For Bowel Preparation "I have to drink two bottles of this stuff, 2-day cleanse, and this is my second night. I started drinking it with a lemonade powder, I LOVE lemon anything, lol. Anyway, to me, it tasted horrible with the lemon, so I tried it by itself, and it tastes like baking soda and water. Last night at the beginning, I felt a little bloated and a very little nausea. After things started moving, my stomach settled down. I am drinking two jugs because my first test I used something else and it did not work as well as it should have. I pray this will be the last time for a long, long while! It does do the job!"

• go ...
• July 29, 2014

For Bowel Preparation "I had rectal cancer and a rectal resection in 2012. Used MoviePrep and Half Lytely with no problem. Two years have passed, and I experience nausea more frequently than before, and I am unable to finish even a third of the pineapple-flavored GoLYTELY. So bad. Salty pineapple, whoo whew."

• Rat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 29, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I was given the unflavored 4-liter bottle of GoLYTELY for colonoscopy prep and the split protocol (drink half at suppertime the night before and the other half 6 hrs before arrival). I was told I could add sugar-free lemonade Crystal Light (no other options permitted). The prep itself worked as expected, despite the fact that I was only able to drink 2/3 of the total volume. I developed severe nausea after the first phase of the prep and had to quit 2 glasses into the second phase. The super-salty flavor wasn't the problem -- I think it was the huge volume consumed quickly and the strong plastic odor/taste of the solution. I did not get dehydrated or dizzy (drank lots of fluids), so I think this stuff is the ticket if I can figure out how to beat the nausea."

• Cak...
• August 24, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I am taking this GoLYTELY prep right now. Please, get an anti-nausea pill to take a half hour before prep. Then when you drink, make sure to have a menthol cough drop in your mouth. It totally takes away the bad taste. It’s not bad at all."

• Cam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 11, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "Caused vomiting with the first half of dosage. On the second half had vomiting with blood, bright red. Was told to stop using it. Had to have an enema just before the colonoscopy. The day after the colonoscopy, my stomach is still nauseated."

• Bel...
• February 21, 2017

For Bowel Preparation "This cleanse was actual living hell. The taste is horrible. I do suggest mixing it with Powerade or Gatorade, and it masks the flavor slightly. You feel so bloated and shaky, and it took forever to go to the bathroom. Up all night with the shakes and going to the bathroom. Also, it makes you gag, and don't be fooled because the first taste isn't that bad. Avoid this drug at all costs!!"

• Reg...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 21, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I started drinking 4 liters of GoLYTELY at 3 pm, for a scheduled colonoscopy at 3:30 the next day. The directions said to drink 8 oz every 10 minutes until the stool was clear. I did the first 2 drinks 10 minutes apart, then 15 min apart, then 20 minutes apart as it made me full and bloated, plus a little nauseous. I asked Google how many cups are in 4 liters, and when I found out that there are 16 cups in 4 liters, I started drinking it again after 10 minutes, until the entire amount was finished. It took me 3.5 hours to do, and I had my first BM about 2.5 hrs after starting. 3 hours after finishing, I’m drinking clear liquids and still having to go to the bathroom. But now it’s mostly light yellow water with flecks of sediment. So I guess I’m ready for the procedure! Too bad it’s only 10:30 pm now and I have to wait until about 6 pm tomorrow to eat!"

• bro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 11, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I was in the hospital with what they thought was a bezoar (turned out to be ischemic colitis). I was given this solution to prepare for a colonoscopy and in hopes of passing the bezoar so I didn't have to have surgery. Anyway, I drank it down and got down to only a fourth of it left when I started vomiting. I even blacked out when I tried to go to the bathroom and vomited at the same time. I wasn't able to finish the prep. I had no bowel movements from the first dose. The next day, I had to do it all over again. It wasn't causing me to go poop and drinking it made me nauseous. I ended up having to have an enema to complete the prep. I definitely do not recommend this. Prepping for a colonoscopy is bad enough without the side effects from this prep. I would definitely recommend people do the MiraLAX/Gatorade prep, as it is much easier on your system."

• Anonymous
• April 16, 2017

"I suffer from chronic constipation and then severe diarrhea. I had to take the GoLYTELY for a colonoscopy. It was awful! They told me to start taking laxatives on Friday. I had to take 2 on Friday, Saturday, and 2, 2 hours before the prep. So I only had 3 glasses before it happened! Lol! The directions said to stop once the stool was clear. It worked very well, I only had to drink half of it (thank God!) I had severe nausea and close to emesis each time I had to drink that foul drink! I will never do it again, they better get what they need!"

• Kat...
• September 20, 2015

For Bowel Preparation "Horrible. Just finished the first half, and I am dreading, literally dreading, the second half. I threw up half of it and feel sicker than a dog with a splitting migraine!"

• ski...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 13, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "This stuff is so gross! I've managed to drink down 1/2 the gallon so far, and no bowel movement. It tastes so hideous I feel like I might puke. Not sure how I can keep drinking this."