Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes and Cramps: What Users Say

• Cyn...
• June 11, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "Want to lose 13 lbs in 2 days along with all your electrolytes, every single drop of water in your body, and your general will to live? If so, try new Plenvu bowel prep, where our motto is 'if you didn't have hemorrhoids before, you do now!' Dose 1 comes in our great new mango, burned car tire, toilet bowl cleaner sludge flavor! Take it before bed to ensure you get zero sleep and wake up hating everyone and everything. If you survive the night, you get rewarded with another dose at 4 a.m. This one comes in the only slightly less repulsive flavor of fruit punch, saltwater, and enough Aspartame to give cancer to an entire 3rd world country! Side effects include pooping your brains out for days before, during, and after your procedure, anal bleeding, severe muscle cramps, joint pain, headache, severe dehydration, and hoping you poop on the doctor who made you wait an hour and a half after your appointment time to begin your colonoscopy."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 18, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I checked out the reviews the night I was to start this for my first colonoscopy. I was horrified, almost to the point of tears. I debated even going through with it! I’m glad I decided to do it. The taste was not the greatest, but tolerable with water after every drink. I started taking it at 5 pm. It started working within the hour, no cramping, no stomach upset. I was done by 10 and slept all night. I woke up at 5 am to start the next dose, which I thought was better than the first. Again, it started working within the hour and was done by 9:30 am. No adverse reactions! I wish I had never read the reviews on this. The taste was the worst, the first dose tasted like mango flavor with salt water, the second dose was fruit punch with slight salt water, but it was tolerable with water after every drink. They found 1 polyp and removed it, benign, thank God! I fully recommend this product!"

• 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."

• CAT...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I did the split dose and was able to get it down with no issues. I mixed the solution a few hours in advance and let it chill in the fridge. I drank half at 5 pm instead of 6 (with no straw so I could get it down faster), had water, then finished the rest about 10 minutes later, followed by more water. It tasted like a fruit drink to me. The first dose took about an hour to kick in, but once it did, I had no cramping, discomfort, etc. Just a lot of watery movements. It did, however, make me extremely cold. After a couple of hours, I was done for the night and able to get a good night's sleep. Took the second dose this morning at 6 am, and within 20 minutes it started working. Same experience as last night, and an hour later, I'm in great shape for my colonoscopy! I'm thrilled that this was the complete opposite of what I expected and feel a huge sense of relief that the process worked as needed."

• 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."

• Aar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 6, 2024

For Bowel Preparation "Much more tolerable than Suprep I took 10 years ago. High volume, but it tasted okay. Kind of like salty flat lemon-lime soda. Thicker than water. Started working in about 1.5 hours. No gagging. No cramps. A much better option!"

• She...
• May 28, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "There is only one word for this bowel preparation: NASTY. Please listen to the reviews. I have had three colonoscopies and never have I been in so much pain. I actually felt like my stomach would explode, and the cramps were unbelievable. I contemplated going to the ED and called the hospital. After a few hours on the toilet, it has settled a little. I am probably NOT going to take the second dose and postpone. This stuff might be successful for some, but it shouldn't be this bad for others."

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

For Bowel Preparation "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!"

• Geo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2015

For Bowel Preparation "This was much easier than expected. First, I went on a low fiber diet two days before taking it. One day (from midnight) before the procedure, I went on a clear liquid diet with no solid food. Then, I took GL at about 6 PM. No reaction until the seventh 8-ounce glass of GL. Then it did the job it's designed to do. No pains or cramps. The solution was cold, and I got each glass down as fast as comfortably possible. Taste? I didn't notice anything bad about it and did not add any flavoring. It's like drinking a lot of water. Maybe they should have a beer flavor to make it go down even easier."

• Byr...
• February 4, 2014

For Bowel Preparation "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."

• Mis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 2, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I was absolutely terrified of this GoLYTELY prep. I'm 7 glasses in, and I haven't puked, no serious cramping, and overall, it's not nearly as bad as what I was expecting. It's doing its job, and it's cleaning me out! I mixed it with powdered lemonade (heavy on the lemonade), and the taste didn't bother me at all. I drank a cup at a time, chilled, and through a straw. The worst part for me is that I'm HUNGRY!!! My procedure is at 7 a.m. in the morning, and I started my prep at noon the day before. I'll be done before 4 p.m., and then I'll just have to starve until after the procedure. I would say that the worst so far is that my anus is so sore! And I want to eat!"

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

For Bowel Preparation "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."

• tmj...
• January 27, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "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."

• SGa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 31, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "After reading all the bad reviews on here, I was terrified to try Plenvu. But, it wasn’t bad! I think all the preps are going to taste bad, so don’t let that deter you. The mango was definitely harder for me to get down, but I followed each sip with a bite of lemon Italian Ice, and that helped immensely. It worked quickly and effectively without any nausea or cramping. Just a noisy stomach, but I’m sure that’s to be expected. The fruit punch (second dose) was much better tasting, but still not something I would choose to drink if I had other options. I was completely cleaned out and had no issues getting to my appointment. I highly recommend this prep and will use it again when I need my next colonoscopy. Another good note is to definitely use some sort of barrier cream after every movement. Helped me a lot!"

• 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."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 16, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "My experience with Plenvu was entirely positive. It did a great job cleaning out my bowel, the nurse commented so. I found it was best to drink it down quickly. The taste is better than I expected, but the less time it spends on your tongue, the better. What is important is to drink much more water than suggested to stay hydrated. When it came to the colonoscopy, I chose to be unsedated, and it was fascinating to watch. No pain at all, no gas really. Just a bit of cramping. Overall, a much better experience than I expected."

• ETa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 3, 2018

For Bowel Preparation "I just started bowel prep. I have been scared all day reading online comments about how bad it tastes and how it makes people throw up and gag. THIS STUFF DOESN'T EVEN TASTE BAD??!?!?! It's actually borderline sugary and good. Wow... I can't believe I got scared of reading online comments. I'll never do that again. This stuff is not so bad whatsoever! I'll post another update when I start going to see if it causes cramps/bloating/pain/nausea."

• Jta...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 25, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "My 6th colonoscopy and first time using Plenvu. Tasted OK, and the quantity required was low compared to the several liters required for CleanPrep... But unfortunately, Plenvu caused severe abdominal cramps and poor clearance of bowels. My colonoscopy was cut short due to 'poor preparation,' and the doctor told me not to accept Plenvu again if prescribed. I guess it's different for different people, but I was very disappointed that all the pain and time I took to prepare for the procedure was wasted because of Plenvu."

• Gar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 26, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "It tastes similar to those rehydration powders, kinda salty. Not great, but added a little cordial, and it was drinkable over 45 minutes. About 75 minutes after I started drinking, it started. I can only describe it as like doing a powerful wee, but from your anus. However, no pain, and it was controllable, and over after a few hours. For context, I was still able to get on with some household chores in between loo runs. A few tips: 1) Get it down quick, you don't want to be still forcing it down once the effects are felt! 2) I applied some hemorrhoid ointment in advance, which really helped the discomfort, along with regular Vaseline application. 3) Ladies, it's basically water. Get some baby wipes and really clean up after every single time, I can imagine it'd be very easy to get BV after this. 4) Keep drinking - you will feel shaky and unwell if you dehydrate, and it'll give you cramps. Overall, not bad, and a necessary evil."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 27, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I too had a negative experience with Plenvu. The taste was horrendous. It started working within 15 minutes of finishing dose 1. I was so nauseous and clammy I thought for sure I was going to pass out. I couldn’t finish the second dose as the same thing happened. My blood pressure was also very high for me after the second dose. I was crampy and bloated for weeks after and still don’t feel as good as I had before this prep 6 months ago. I wouldn’t recommend this prep to my worst enemy."

• Jay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I would highly recommend this prep, which I chose for my first colonoscopy. It's the lowest volume option (less to drink), and while I suspect they all taste horrible, I was able to drink this without issue (kept it cold, used a straw to minimize contact with taste buds, and sipped water to clear the aftertaste immediately). I get an upset stomach easily but didn't experience that with this prep. It was effective but with no cramping or nausea, and I didn't have to get up in the middle of the night. I did scale back on certain foods a few days prior, however, (red meat, anything with skin (onions, grapes, etc.). Doc said prep was excellent."

• Car...
• March 22, 2016

For Bowel Preparation "Can't believe all the negative comments. My previous colonoscopy had a vile mixture to take. MoviPrep is a breeze. Doesn't taste too bad. Very easy to get down. Started working after 1 hour. No cramps. I think if you follow the directions regarding what you eat in the days leading up to the procedure, you should not have too many problems."

• Ann...
• May 31, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "Drinking my 2nd dose now of MoviPrep. First one was okay, started at 6 pm, from 7 pm - 8 pm bowel movements, mainly dirty water. At 9:30 pm again one visit in the toilet. Then I slept, with a lot of rumbling in my stomach. In the morning, one small watery-dirty movement. Now drinking it again. It's the second time I have a colonoscopy with MoviPrep. My experience says: 1) Don't drink it cold. It may taste better, but I get more cramps and pain when it's cold. I drink it lukewarm and chase every sip with lukewarm green tea. Before each sip, I put a slice of lemon on my tongue and a slice of ginger. 2) Use water to wash your butt, not toilet paper or wet wipes. Wiping makes my butt hurt very much. Wet wipes don't work for me, it still irritates, maybe even more, 'cause wipes give me an allergic reaction. So, I wash it with water each time, and when clean, I put a lot of Vaseline. My first colonoscopy went fine, I was well prepared. I hope today will be the same."

• Mis...
• September 26, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I gave this a 10 for effectiveness because it is unbelievably effective and powerful. That is the only good thing I can say. I have so far used the first part of this prep. Within less than 10 minutes, I was running to the bathroom. Sat for over an hour before I could safely get up. The cramps and stomach pain were terrible. The taste is horrible. I used a straw to try to avoid the taste and still gagged with every drink. Still trying not to throw up. I would never recommend this stuff."

• Joh...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 8, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "This is my second colonoscopy and my first time using this bowel prep. Took the first dose around 5 pm, and it was a horrible “mango” flavor, but managed to get it down. Stayed on the pot and was pretty confident I was cleared out by 11 pm. Second dose at 5 am tasted so bad it made me throw up a small amount several times afterward. Managed to get it down finally, which resulted in severe stomach pain and cramps up until the time of my procedure. The procedure itself went well, but a full day later my stomach is still tender and sore from the bowel prep cramps the second dose gave me. The pain and gas appear to be dissipating, but I would not recommend this product to anyone. I don’t remember the name of the bowel prep I used last time, but it was cheaper and didn’t have as many horrible side effects."