MoviPrep and Sick: What Users Say

• Mov...
• April 29, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "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."

• Nut...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 1, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I had to use this before my colonoscopy, and after hearing about it and reading, I had really worked myself up, but I didn’t need to, it was no problem at all. I took the first MoviPrep dose at 5 pm and started on the loo at 6. I just sat there for 90 mins, there isn’t much point in getting off the toilet! I was in bed by 8:45, all done. I woke up at 5:30 and started the 2nd dose, it began working at 7:15 am and was done by 9:15 am. I had no stomach cramps or pains, and I wasn’t sick. I made it up a few hours beforehand and chilled it. It does get harder to drink the longer you take, and it took me about 75 mins to drink the full litre. By the end of the first dose, it was just yellow clear water coming out, so I wasn’t even sure I needed the second dose, but I took it anyway. I do suffer from IBS-D, so I’m not sure if that’s why it was easier for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 20, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "My appointment was at 4 pm, so I started the first packet around 7 pm the day before. It was bearable but not the best taste. By the end of the first liter, I had really had enough and felt quite sick. I didn't even get through the last bit before I needed the toilet. After the first half hour of bowel movements, I had serious cramps in my stomach and doubled over in pain. This lasted for around an hour, then trips to the toilet started again, which almost instantly stopped the cramps. I was awake most of the night due to going to the toilet. I have now started the 2nd dose at 7 am. Just want this all over now. Really hope I don't get more cramps."

• 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!"

• Cha...
• January 21, 2017

For Bowel Preparation "This is the worst thing I have ever tasted in my entire life. It took me ages to drink the first liter. After, I felt sick, stomach cramps. Then, 2 hours after drinking the first liter, the heavens opened! I tried to drink my second liter, but I physically couldn't. I drank 500 ml of it, and I threw up the whole River Nile (after drinking 1 l of water in between). Worst experience ever! And I'm starving, LOL."

• Erm...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "Took the first liter at 5:30 pm, and it was tolerable, managed to drink it all within 40 minutes, and the drink took effect just as I finished. Started the second liter at around 6:30 and found it unbearable, made me quite sick after the second glass, and then couldn’t bring myself to carry on drinking until around an hour after. The taste is awful the more you drink, but the aftermath hasn’t been half as bad as I expected."

• Ila...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I chilled MoviPrep, took my time between 2 glasses, tried a straw, tried to mix with flavored iced tea, but still did not manage fully the first liter. The 3rd glass just came back the same way it went down straight away as the taste was overwhelmingly bad. No effect even after partially drinking, so my hubby went and got me senna, and I took 2 of them before going to bed. Now I am in the morning before my afternoon appointment, going to the toilet, but unsure it will be enough. I had a colonoscopy and gastroscopy a few years back in another country, and the prep was much better, less amount to drink, don’t recall such a vile taste, and it worked beautifully. At that time I did not eat 72 hours before, so that was more the challenge. The only positive effect of MoviPrep was that after the first sip I was no longer hungry as I got nauseous, bloated, and felt sick."

• N30...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2018

For Bowel Preparation "30-year-old female, first time ever taking any kind of laxative. So I was really scared about this. Terrified. I read endless reviews of people who had a horrible time. Save your worry! I didn't start to feel anything until my third glass, and I couldn't finish my fourth because, by the time I had stopped going back and forth, it probably wasn't worth drinking anyway. The leaflet says to drink 500 ml with the prep, and I drank a liter, making it 2 L in total with my first dose. I've been recommended to do a split dose, and I have a sickness pill for the morning just in case it upsets my stomach, but I doubt very much it's going to. It feels like being too full of beer. You belch, and it's gone though, so it's okay! The taste isn't amazing, but it's not awful. It tastes like a really horrible flavor of Lucozade Sport with too much flavoring in. It's kind of really salty and super sweet at the same time. If you're worried about being sick, ask for some antiemetics from your GP."

• Liz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 14, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "After reading the horror stories of MoviPrep, I was super anxious about taking it. Started taking it at 5 pm. Now, at 7:30, it took just over an hour to drink. For me, I found it easier to sip and then have a sip of lemon squash to wash it down. Felt sick at first, but that soon passed. Had my first movement about 6 pm, no cramps or pain. I can see why people say it is like switching on the hose. I advise getting toilet wipes and Vaseline to use after each movement. Not an overly urgent feeling. Feel pretty normal, just hungry now. Not worried about taking the second batch."

• Kit...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 30, 2018

For Bowel Preparation "The drink doesn't taste that bad. However, the thick, syrupy texture is quite difficult to drink quickly. I was also sick after the second glass. It's bearable, though, so don't be scared. It took until the second prep for it to really start working for me, but then it was mighty effective!"

• hap...
• September 9, 2012

For Bowel Preparation "I was dreading taking this medication because I had been feeling really exhausted and unwell for a long time. The thought of being awake half the night on the loo concerned me about how exhausted I might feel the next day. I was pleasantly surprised to discover, however, that the more waste that was expelled, the better I felt and the more my energy returned. I did find, though, that if I tried to lie down in between visits to the loo, I would feel sick and the tiredness would begin to return. I guess it must have been slowing down the expelling of toxins, and so the toxins were being reabsorbed back into my body. No cramping or any pain, largely due, I believe, to not eating massive meals in the few days in the lead-up... what goes in has to come out!!"

• JRa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 7, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I wish I had read all the comments about this yesterday, then I would have tried cooling it in the fridge before drinking it! It tastes vile, and I really struggled to take it all, though I did succeed eventually. It did make me feel sick, but thankfully I wasn't. Unlike most reviewers on here, I had to take my 2 liters at 2 pm and 5 pm yesterday for a colonoscopy appointment at 11:30 am today. I had been constipated for 2 days beforehand because of the very low-fiber diet, and so I did get a few cramps to begin with until things really started moving! The cramps were very uncomfortable, but nowhere near as painful as having diverticulitis. It was just clear fluid by the time I started taking the 2nd liter. I'm still getting the hosepipe effect this morning, so I just hope I'm empty by then and they can go ahead with the colonoscopy..."

• Anonymous
• November 23, 2009

For Bowel Preparation "Used as a prep for colonoscopy, it made me so sick I had to cancel the procedure. It tastes terrible and caused me to vomit, along with being way overpriced ($58.00)."

• Fee...
• January 30, 2017

For Bowel Preparation "I found it taste nice and lemony but struggled with excessive sweetness. Felt I could be sick but managed to keep it down and working nicely through my system."

• Car...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 31, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I took the 2 liters of MoviPrep over several hours. I was on the loo a lot, passing fluid, then I was sick 3 times. This didn't happen the last time I had to take it."

• Anonymous
• August 28, 2017

For Bowel Preparation "OMG, just had my first lot of MoviPrep, and I feel so sick. Nothing yet, only gurgling stomach. It does say it takes an hour to work. Will take 2nd dose tonight."