Plenvu and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 2)

• hel...
• April 7, 2023

For Bowel Preparation "The first dose was taken at 6:00 p.m. and was mixed with water. However, sips of apple juice blended with ice were consumed in between, followed by another 14 oz of apple juice and ice afterward. The mixture tasted terrible, like the worst Robitussin ever. Approximately 10 minutes later, nausea set in, and Zofran was taken to alleviate it. At around 9:00 p.m., symptoms were still present, and chills occurred twice before finally going to bed at 11:00 p.m. The second dose was completed at 2:20 a.m. Apple juice blended with ice was alternated with the medication, but due to nausea, a second 14 oz of juice could not be consumed. Almost vomited twice, and the second dose was saltier and thicker with a sweeter taste. Lemon-yellow stool and rectal bleeding started at around 4:30 a.m. Managed to make it to the office by 6:40 a.m. and went to the bathroom twice before the procedure, and once after. Leg cramps are now being experienced, and not enough liquid or food can be consumed because of stomach soreness. An endoscopy was also performed, and the entire stomach is described as having 'erythema.' The cause of rectal bleeding is unknown."

• Med...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 9, 2023

For Bowel Preparation "Started my prep at 7 pm as instructed, and I expected results in about an hour per the instruction sheet. Four hours passed, and I had not had any success. Finally, about midnight, things started to progress. It is now 5:30 am, and all is well. Just now, I read that you should call the doctor if nothing happens 2 hours after the first dose. I will be discussing with the doctor this morning. The taste and consistency were not as horrible as the last product I used for colonoscopy prep, and the amount you had to drink was less. I did have some cramping. The cost was $150! The PA who prescribed it gave me a coupon, but if you're on Medicare, the coupon will not work, thus the $150. That information was provided by the pharmacist."

• Anonymous
• April 24, 2023

For Bowel Preparation "I followed every step, from the diet for 7 days prior until the split dose. My biggest problem had been gas and bloating, no cramps, starved from 1 pm yesterday for my appointment today at 3 pm. It was unsuccessful. The colon was not cleansed despite being unable to leave the bathroom from 6 am this morning. Now I'm back home with horrendous cramping and bloating. All the diet fasting and drinking the liquid was all for nothing, I won't go back for another try."

• Anonymous
• April 24, 2023

For Bowel Preparation "I followed every step, from the diet for 7 days prior until the split dose. My biggest problem had been gas and bloating, no cramps, starved from 1 pm yesterday for my appointment today at 3 pm. It was unsuccessful. The colon was not cleansed despite being unable to leave the bathroom from 6 am this morning. Now I'm back home with horrendous cramping and bloating. All the diet fasting and drinking the liquid was all for nothing, I won't go back for another try."

• Yes...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "The taste was not pleasant, but I was able to swallow both doses and keep them down. The first dose, taken at 9 am, started working in about 30 minutes and kept me hopping off and on all day. I took my second dose at 5 pm and was clear by 8 pm. I did not experience any cramping or discomfort, but did wake once during the night to relieve myself and awoke before my alarm from a nightmare. I was concerned about the procedure being canceled due to high blood pressure (as I had read on this site), so I called my doctor asking if I could take my anti-anxiety, but was told no because it could cause my blood pressure to drop, which could also cause cancellation of the procedure. Also, the anesthesia contained a component which would calm me and lower my blood pressure. The procedure went well, and I was home for breakfast and a nap 2-1/2 hours after my appointment time."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "Absolutely foul tasting! Overly sweet, aspartame heavy, and just disgusting. Plenvu, just don't flavor it and let people add their own flavors with cordial or clear fruit juice because the taste of this is absolutely vomit-inducing. After trying to get this down, the explosive diarrhea started within half an hour, and I didn't get off the toilet for about 2 hours. Once I'd had a break for a couple of hours, gulped the second sachet down, and kept peeing out of my butt for another 4 hours. I felt nauseated and crampy afterwards. During the procedure, the doc said it hadn't even cleared my bowel properly, and they had to flush parts of my bowel. Absolutely useless. Moviprep is much better. Tastes just as bad but cleared my colon way more effectively. My tips are to do this during the day before the procedure and eat clear broths two days before. Also, just drink water rather than black coffee as it looks scary on the screen when you see it! I got this on NHS, so no fee."

• Chr...
• April 16, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "The 2nd packet set was awful on my body. I expect it to do its job, but the physical cramping and body aches were not expected. This is my third colonoscopy, and I never had a reaction like this, and the story got worse. Went in for the procedure, and my systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings both shot up over 50 points from my office pre-work. The doctor would NOT do the procedure for fear of stroke or heart attack. So I am going to my general practitioner, probably on meds to get it back to where it was two weeks ago, and then reschedule another colonoscopy. All the flavor and no work, so I get to do it again. But not with Plenvu."

• Thi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 12, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I started my first dose at 4:15. It’s now 7:00, and my stomach is so bloated and cramping and gurgling that I cannot even think about doing dose two. I’ve never heard or felt my stomach doing what it’s doing. The instructions say if you’re experiencing severe bloating, wait until your stomach feels better to start the second packet. Gurgle gurgle, stomach cramps. Whatever preps I used before, I did not have this happen. I thought it was going to be much better when they told me I could do the ‘mini prep’. I have to be in tomorrow for 8:30 AM. Can I take anti-gas pills? I’m scared to start packet 2. I will not do Plenvu again. I’m tough, age 62, never had stomach cramps or period cramps before - feeling crampy is a first for me."

• Bet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I'm sitting on the throne as I write this exactly 2 hours after taking my first dose. I will say after chugging it, I made the worst bitter face that thrilled the family. It tasted like thick, fruity saltwater. After about an hour, I had no results. I then chugged a 16 oz bottle of water, which wasn't hard because the salt made me so thirsty. About 15 minutes later, here I am. I had my first breakthrough and think I could sit here for an hour writing this - I won't be going anywhere soon. I did have some severe cramping and then flatulence that can no longer be trusted. My appointment is early in the morning, so I'll get the pleasure of taking my second dose in about 2 hours. Making them about 5 hours apart. Good thing this is the most painful part of the procedure, the actual procedure is completely painless."

• LLN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 7, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I found the first dose harder to handle than the second. I had cramps after the first dose. It was hard to get down and took me 90 minutes to finish. The second dose I finished in 35 minutes. Both doses made me bloated and nauseous. I also had chills after the second dose. It seems to be working as expected. I didn’t find using a straw helped, but keeping it cold and taking water after each drink of the solution did help."

• Ple...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 4, 2025

For Bowel Preparation "Posting this hoping to give people a little reassurance. This was my second colonoscopy, the first one was with Miralax/Gatorade mix and magnesium citrate, this one with Plenvu. I was worried that it would make me sick based on other reviews - but it was totally fine. Eat light meals the day before prep and drink plenty of fluids - dehydration will cause dizziness and nausea. I started my prep about an hour/hour and a half earlier for each dose because it tastes gross and took me longer to get down. Alternating between prep and ginger ale (whisk the carbonation out) helped a lot. The second dose was a little bit harder to get down, especially at 3 a.m., and caused a little bit of cramping at first, but once your bowels start moving, it goes away. Aside from the timing of it and taste, it really wasn't bad at all, especially compared to the magnesium citrate I took last time, which caused more side effects. Overall, don't be nervous! Stay hydrated and put a movie on, all will go well!"

• JKR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 3, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "This was my first colonoscopy, and my GI specialist prescribed Plenvu. Here are my thoughts and results: Overall experience: positive. Colonoscopy was scheduled for 8:15 am today, so I was instructed by my GI specialist to take the first dose at noon 1/2 and the second dose at midnight 1/2. Dose 1: Flavor was a stretch; had Alka-Seltzer consistency. I just sipped and was okay. Took 90 minutes to kick in and spent no more than 15 min each time in the bathroom. Wore off about 9 hrs. 2nd dose was awful... powered through the dose. The flavor was truly awful. It kicked in after an hour and finished the job, then wore off after 5 hours. Best advice is to follow the directions the doc gives to the LETTER. Use a straw on the second dose. Overall experience was positive - have to consider the sole purpose is to clean your colon out so the colonoscopy is successful. Can't give it a 10 due to the flavor, but it did what it was supposed to do with minimal cramping and no pain whatsoever."

• Dot...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 13, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "Rank taste, hard to drink, but effective, really got the bowels moving. Like a grenade going off inside, certainly not pleasant in any way. I did get cramps and nausea for a few hours, but has to be done. Would hope I never have to do it again."

• Ano...
• August 27, 2025

For Bowel Preparation "Had my first colonoscopy and was the first in my family to try Plenvu. It cleaned me out very quickly, with no cramping and mild nausea. The first dose is disgusting. If I had to describe the taste: a mango pixie stick but instead of sugar, they used salt. It’s so salty. The second dose was not as bad. Still a bit salty, but overall just tasted like cheap semi-salty fruit punch. I’ve always heard colonoscopy prep was disgusting and the first packet definitely showed me that was true, but thankfully the second packet was okay. My bowels were clean and the procedure went smoothly."

• Sar...
• March 28, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "First time using this, I got it down fast. The 2nd dose was harder, but I still drank it in 10 minutes. I took anti-nausea tablets before I started and another one after the 2nd dose. Not much cramps, I would use it again."

• Mea...
• July 23, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "This was my second colonoscopy. Can’t remember much of the first one, only that I had real cramps and didn’t produce much. For this one, I started my first prep at 3:30 pm. All I did was just close off my nose from smelling or tasting so it went down easier. Took about 15 minutes to finish prep and then drank two more bottles of water. Didn’t taste a thing. A few belches was the only way I knew what it tasted like. I had some bloating because of all the liquids you have to drink in an hour's time. Took about an hour and a half after I finished, then the floodgates opened. No cramps or nausea with this step. It lasted until about 7:00 pm. Felt okay. Slept about 4 hours until the second at 1:30 am. The second dose was a little hard to get down. I was tired and not much in my stomach to coat the second dose. Got a little nauseous with this step. I took my time drinking the second dose and it took everything I had to keep it down, and I did. It does the job with minimal side effects."

• Bet...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 12, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "Soooo. It has been an hour since my first dose and nothing but real bad cramping and discomfort in my upper GI. I have had no BM yet. I am extremely bloated and uncomfortable. Hopefully, dose 2 goes better. But I do have to do an enema at 6 am as well."

• Dir...
• December 23, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "First colonoscopy, this product worked great as long as you follow doctor's orders with eating and dosing regimen. Used popsicles and hard candies while ingesting. Give yourself a few hours each dose to be on the toilet. Some cramping and nausea, expected this but went away quickly after evacuating the colon. I would use this product again."

• 1st...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "This was my 1st colonoscopy, so I had no history to look back on. The reviews on here were spot on for Dose 1. It’s an awful mango flavor that’s sweet, salty, and thick. The mere thought of it still makes me queasy. I managed to finish 95% of it in about 40-45 minutes. Drinking apple juice in between sips was definitely helpful advice. I had a temporary crown installed the week before and was on a very soft food diet, so that really helped. Dose one did its job effectively. My doctor gave me anti-nausea meds, and I took those based on the reviews from this site. I had zero issues with bloating or cramping. Dose 2, at a wonderful 4:15 AM, was another awful fruit punch flavor that was just as sweet and salty as Dose 1, but thank God it wasn’t a syrup consistency. I choked down 90% of it and quit when I threw it up. Overall, this was an awful prep experience, but I never really vomited, so thankful for that at least. My colonoscopy went well."

• Bri...
• June 19, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I got cramps, shivers, bloatedness. The next morning I still had to go. It tasted so bad. I don’t like the 3 days beforehand you have to limit your diet too."