MoviPrep and Nausea: What Users Say

• Lun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 11, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "Ok, I hate this stuff. It gives me nightmares. It's absolutely vile and impossible to finish. The only way I can get it down is chilled through a straw. It's like a military operation - I have a glass, I pour it into, then I have mouthwash straight after each drink to get rid of the taste. I try to get it all down in half an hour - that's between gagging and eventually throwing up. I think in this day and age someone, somewhere could come up with something that doesn't taste so disgusting. It triggers nausea and migraines. Anyone who drinks this deserves a medal."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 17, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "Despite the side effects of nausea, vomiting, and taste, I have to keep in mind that it was beneficial for my overall health. I am a 4-time survivor of colon cancer. I would rather spend a few days out of my life enduring this than going through chemotherapy and losing the battle to cancer as my father and grandmother did."

• rba...
• May 22, 2018

For Bowel Preparation "Did the 2-stage MoviPrep for the first time and it was the easiest and best prep I have done, and I've done four. I have had poor preps in the past, so I decided to reduce fiber intake the week before, which also helped. I chilled the first 32 ounces and started at 1 PM, and drank 8 oz about every 20 minutes. The taste was not that bad, and I chased each dose with an ice popsicle and some water. It was not nearly as bad for me as MiraLax or GoLYTELY, which I could not tolerate. No nausea, no cramping, just some gurgling as the stuff took effect. After the first dose, I was not completely clear, but the second dose (6 PM) did the trick. Colonoscopy itself was a breeze (propofol is your friend, do not settle for IV Demerol), always enjoy the initial feeling of falling off, did not remember a thing, and woke up a little groggy but fine. The doc said the prep was excellent, and no polyps or abnormalities were found. Overall, the best experience for me in now 5 tries. Hope this reassures and helps someone else."

• Tiz...
• June 19, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "No one reading this review will be more frightened than I was at having to take MoviPrep - I had to take it yesterday in a state of blind panic, but I survived. I kept to a virtual liquid diet for 36 hours before prep. Poured the prep into 250 ml bottles and chilled. Used a metal straw, alternating 3 gulps of prep and gulps of ginger ale, cutting through the cloying sweetness of the prep, which was like seltzer with a heavy lemon taste. Not nice, but can be swallowed easily if you distract yourself like I did watching TV. It really was drinkable. Only a little bloating, no cramps, a little nausea maybe gulping too quickly. Just felt very cold after sitting on the loo for hours. When the prep started to work, it was gentle, no 'power wash,' just a trickle and the odd whoosh. Managed to get to bed, got up a few times through the night. Morning doses dreaded, but had very little problem. Crucially, it did the job. The worst part, without a doubt, was the worry and fear before the prep."

• Lau...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2013

For Bowel Preparation "This is by far the easiest prep I’ve used. Yes, it smells and tastes awful, but you can overcome that somewhat by mixing ahead and chilling the mixture, using a straw, and chasing with a sip of whatever tastes good to you. Stand and walk a bit while you drink-it helps get things moving and dispels the bloated feeling. The prep started working in 50 minutes both evening and morning, and worked thoroughly. The duration of action was 4 hours after the evening dose, 2 hours after the morning. No nausea, very little cramping, and not much soreness. I was able to have the procedure done and didn't have much trouble getting back to normal. I would use this again when necessary."

• Ken...
• July 17, 2020

"I found the MoviPrep very difficult to drink, and it took me around 45 minutes to manage even one glass. I initially tried orange cordial to mask the taste but got sick of the sweetness after a while and eventually just added some Sprite to it, which made it a bit easier. It began to work within 30 to 40 minutes of initially starting to consume it. I highly recommend using wet wipes and Vaseline/Sudocrem, as you can become very tender very quickly. Overall, I managed to drink around 90% of the MoviPrep (the last liter was a real struggle, and I did begin to feel very nauseous), but thankfully at my scope this morning, the doctor was very happy with the prep. I have never had a colonoscopy before, but looking back, the actual procedure was a walk in the park compared to how difficult consuming the MoviPrep was. In hindsight, I wish I had given myself more time to drink the prep and started earlier, as I was late going to bed then."

• Fro...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 27, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "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."

• Jan...
• June 10, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "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."

• Rib...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2014

For Bowel Preparation "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."

• FFS...
• August 15, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "I came across this page as I was halfway through some MoviPrep and on the brink of throwing it up. I tried a straw, herbal tea chaser, soda water, mints, and none of these helped. I then tried chewing gum, pinching my nose, and not taking too big a gulp. I'm now almost through the second lot. It's working, but I haven't had the big rush to the loo that I was expecting. I have colonoscopies every couple of years, and each time I forget how awful this stuff is. Why can't they just give us something to evacuate the bowel that is then followed by heaps of water to flush it through? Good luck to all who have to drink this."

• Pat...
• November 14, 2014

For Bowel Preparation "Took MoviPrep for my 50-year colonoscopy screening. I'm sorry many people have had such a hard time with it, but for myself, that just wasn't the case. Yes, the prep tastes fairly gross: like thick flat 7-Up with salt in it... followed by a weird melon-cucumber aftertaste. I chilled it, and when it was time to drink an 8 oz portion, I just gulped it down. The only time it was almost too much was on dose 8 in the AM. Following that with 16 oz of water was almost too much to bear, and it made me nauseous. It took almost an hour for the prep to get going, but there was only some rumbling and no cramping. The night before doses got the movements fairly clear, but it took the morning dose to really clean things up. The diarrhea wasn't that bad."

• don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 1, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "This is the most disgusting stuff ever. How can anyone swallow this? Such an intrusive taste that you can’t tell whether it’s most sour, salty, or extremely sweet. So confusing to the brain that you need to throw up. I’m not sensitive, but this was too much. The procedure could not be performed."

• sto...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 9, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "Okay, so today I used MoviPrep, lemon-flavored, and I am someone who cannot deal with bad-tasting things, and this really hit that bad-tasting spot. I am honestly so nauseous from it and feel like I’m going to throw up more than go to the bathroom."

• WLB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 29, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I could not tolerate the MoviPrep. Pure torture. It took me two hours (instead of one) to complete the first dose. Gave me nausea and could not stand the taste. I had to drink the second dose so slowly to avoid throwing up -- just tiny sips -- that I probably only got down about a 1/4 cup instead of one liter. However, the doctor said I was cleaned out, so it ended up okay. For my first colonoscopy, I had a similar problem (I don't remember what the Rx was), and I made the mistake of telling the office that I had not completed the dose (even though I thought I was pretty cleaned out), and after all that torture, they canceled the colonoscopy, so it was all for naught. That's why I didn't tell them this time (but they didn't ask, thank goodness)."

• Lyn...
• January 4, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "I'm 29, and this is my second time in less than two months having to take MoviPrep. They couldn't complete the colonoscopy the first time around. Everyone has different side effects, but for me, it makes me so sick. I have to get a colonoscopy every two years, and this terrifies me. I'm very petite, and my stomach just doesn't hold out to 2L of it. I took the first batch at 5 pm, and it took me 2 hours. The second batch is not so easy. I started at 9 pm, and it's now 10:30 pm, and I can't stop vomiting. I've drunk half of the second batch, and my bowel is clear, so I'm hoping that will be enough for my colonoscopy tomorrow. The no eating and sitting on the toilet doesn't bother me at all, I wish there was something less nauseating!"

• Anonymous
• August 17, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "Drink MoviPrep chilled and through a straw. The taste is a salty lemon, vile, awful, thick sludge. Use a chaser of ginger ale or white Gatorade. It’s easier to just chug through a straw. Do not. I repeat, do not go far from the bathroom once you start drinking. It started working within 15 minutes, and I had fasted for 26 hours already. And low fiber before that. I got chills, nausea, gagging from the drink and the taste. The chills lasted three hours. The bathroom trips lasted for 4 hours or more but slowed down. You cannot control it. The urge comes, or sometimes does not come. It just happens. Then it’s time for the second dose. I could barely get through the second one, and I’m more nauseated even after a prescribed anti-nausea pill I had on hand from a previous issue."

• lau...
• November 8, 2015

For Bowel Preparation "Well, taking this for colonoscopy prep was fearing the worst, but has been a breeze. No pain, slight nausea, and slight headache. Started working within 45 mins. Deduced a star as I took my last lot at 6:45, and it is now half past 11 and still going to the toilet. I want to sleep, lol. But does the job, and don't be put off by the horror stories. It's easy, just chill on the toilet with a good book or phone. If anything, I was actually bored sitting on the toilet so much more than anything, and wet wipes and Vaseline are a must."

• wha...
• February 7, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I downed my first liter of MoviPrep nearly two hours ago. As most folk on here say, it tastes vile and has left me feeling nauseous. Within 10 mins of finishing the first liter, I experienced explosive diarrhea, which carried on for another hour, by which time I was just pooing water. So I suppose it has worked, but I'm now dreading the next liter, as the bloating is very painful. I hope the prep works okay for my colonoscopy, which I'm having late tomorrow morning."

• Ejl...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I was supposed to take 2 liters of MoviPrep at 5 pm and another 2 liters at 8 pm. After taking 1.5 liters, I became unwell with severe nausea and vomiting. It was impossible for me to take any more as I was vomiting it all back up immediately. Unable to go ahead with colonoscopy as I was unable to take enough to clear my bowel. The taste was horrendous, very salty."

• Mat...
• March 7, 2017

For Bowel Preparation "I was dreading taking this medication after reading some reviews about the taste, etc. Well, I can only speak for myself, but I found it fine, like slightly salty lemonade. I made it up about 30 mins before taking and chilled it in the fridge. As for effectiveness, well, within 30 mins I was making myself comfortable on the throne and am well and truly welded to the spot. At first, the movements were preceded by a short gurgle of the bowels, then all hell broke loose, and what I can only describe as a 'gush' of fluid came out. Initially, there were some solids, however, now just fluid, currently every 10 minutes. I am due to take the 2nd liter in the morning and will report back if I have a different experience. Took the 1st dose at 6 pm - drank in 15 mins."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2015

For Bowel Preparation "This is not the nightmare many are making it out to be. No cramps or nausea. Tastes like a lime drink with a bit thicker texture. It is a bit salty, but that's to help you not get dehydrated when the show starts. Fast-acting and extremely effective. I may just make this a routine patio drink."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 5, 2015

For Bowel Preparation "I was just finishing my last glass of part one, wondering how long 'til I'm hitting the bathroom. So I googled my inquiry, and this review site popped up. I must have read several reviews, belching away the bloatingness, and I read how the reviewers' stomach rumbled, and so mine began - I started after 7 pm, chugged the first three down pretty timely, just trying to avoid feeling nauseous. I can deal with bubble guts, but not vomit. The last one went kinda slow, but I finished, and a few sips of Gatorade, and I'm on the way. Not bad - this stuff is going to do the trick! The taste isn't that bad, just a salty version of lemon Gatorade. Not thick at all. If you have sensitive buds, it may be harder to finish, but take your time, keep it cold, and you are good to go - literally!"

• Elv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 7, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I am currently on the loo! I took my first liter between 5 pm and 6:45 pm. I then started going to the toilet every 10 minutes or so. Dreading the second liter now... the taste is vile! It makes me queasy and lightheaded, but it’s doing the job it’s supposed to! Good luck, everyone..."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 17, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I was prescribed MoviPrep for a colonoscopy, which I took last night at 6 PM. It tasted absolutely horrific, it tasted like Alka-Seltzer with lemon flavor. It is very salty, and it made me feel sick - I felt like I was going to vomit for an hour. It finally worked, and I felt a lot better this morning. I know I had to take it again, so I added ice to the solution and made it very cold, and it was a lot easier to drink and it didn’t taste as bad, it seems to be working. The key here is to make it very, very cold, and it does not taste as bad. Also, some people have mixed it with Crystal Light and found it to be more pleasant."

• Bes...
• November 2, 2015

For Bowel Preparation "Easy to put this product in perspective if you've had lots of colonoscopies. Get them every 1-2 years since young adulthood. I have issues with the ones that contain vast amounts of liquid; not yummy either, and I have more nausea because too much liquid too fast. This product, by far the best I've used, also prefer to the OTC method. The smell is lemon, like lemon cleaning products. Don't sit smelling before; just drink it. It tastes of salty lemon Gatorade, so don't use lemon Gatorade as your extra liquid. With this stuff, I had fewer cramps, one of the easiest to take, and cleaned me out great. Side note makes the process easier and cleaner: stop eating seeded food (and nuts) another 24 hours before the diet starts; anything with seeds, including berries and certain veggies (carbs and protein are good)."