Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes and Cramps: What Users Say (Page 4)

• Rob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2021

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes for Bowel Preparation "It is a bit like drinking seawater, so not great, but not awful. I had one strongish stomach cramp during the evening, and my stomach felt hard and bloated, but other than that, no real pain, just the urge to go to the toilet every 25 min or so. It was nothing like having a stomach bug. When I was taking the second lot the following morning, I had no pain, just the need for the loo regularly. I did feel a little bit dizzy at times."

• Esi...
• January 5, 2017

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes for Bowel Preparation "I took this stuff before having a flexible sigmoidoscopy. The first dose worked after about an hour. It tasted unpleasant (cheap, lemony, and salty), and the consistency was thick and lumpy, so it was difficult to swallow. When I rinsed the jug out afterwards, it fizzed like a volcano. There has been plenty of urgency to go to the loo, but no cramps. The first dose cleared me out so well that I didn't need to bother with the second dose."

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 16, 2023

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes for Bowel Preparation "I had 3 glasses, and after the third, I instantly felt nauseous, and my stomach was cramping immensely. I feel lightheaded and horrible. I was not feeling this way before the prep, so I know it was from this. I called and canceled after feeling so horrible. I was so nauseous I couldn’t even finish it. The taste is doable, but the way it made me feel was horrible, and I wasn’t even halfway through."

• Anonymous
• April 24, 2023

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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
• August 15, 2019

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes for Bowel Preparation "I don't know how any human being is supposed to be able to drink 4 liters of this stuff. There was a vague fruity taste that only made things worse, and every bloody sip of the total 128 ounces was an absolute nightmare. Gagged on every one. The second round would take 15 minutes for each 8 oz. (although I was finally just flat-out cheating on the last 3 glasses). On #5 and #8 of that round, I just threw it all up. I don't mind the cramping and pooping, but I simply can't ever do that again. Now they're telling me that I couldn't finish the job, so they want me to have just a sigmoidoscopy in 2 months. From what I'm told about that prep, I might actually survive it, but I'm still terrified. I just had it done yesterday, and when I think about it, it still makes me cry."

• hel...
• April 7, 2023

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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."

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

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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."

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

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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."

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

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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."

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

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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."

• Tip...
• August 29, 2018

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes for Bowel Preparation "1) I prepared an 8-ounce glass and put it in the freezer just for a while, so it was so cold and took away some of the taste. 2) Took Valium before I began to help with anxiety and possible cramping. 3) Did about 2-4 gulps at a time and sucked on a mint to get rid of the taste before taking more sips. Liked the idea of clear chicken broth soup. 4) Sometimes I couldn’t finish 8 oz. at once, so if I thought it was going to heave, I just stopped at 6 oz. 5) Did end up having to wait 30 minutes before starting new glasses. Go slowly. 6) Next time would consider taking a Zofran (anti-nausea) as someone suggested. 7) Would consider adding 2 flavored packets instead of 1 next time to better disguise the taste. (Will sprinkle some in the 1st glass for a test.) My doctor also said I could start way earlier than I did, so next time I would start way earlier. Was offered to finish the next half the second day, but the thought of drinking more in the morning was nauseating to me."

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

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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."

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

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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..."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 23, 2021

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes for Bowel Preparation "The worst part was actually drinking the MoviPrep because it tastes salty, and I hate salty drinks. The toilet visits weren’t painful to me, just had minor cramping. I also felt a little nauseous, but I think it’s because of drinking the MoviPrep. I had the orange-flavored one, and it's definitely not masking the gross flavor."

• Tre...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 21, 2023

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes for Bowel Preparation "This is the nastiest tasting medicine they could give me. This is the only product they can give me because the magnesium citrate they normally want you to take was pulled from sales because of some kind of contamination in June 2022. It is now January 2023, and they tell me that the company that produces magnesium citrate, Vi-Jon LLC, was shut down and is no longer made. I refused to take this stuff because the last time I was prescribed it, I couldn't get through 1/4 of this junk, even that much gave me cramps and what felt like dry heaves of the bowels. I can't believe there is no one out there that can make a much better product. I had to clean myself out for surgery by not eating 48 hours before, only clear liquids, another laxative, and an enema. Even all that was better than this GoLYTELY crap. The cramps and pain from this stuff were the worst I've had. I was in the military the first time I took this stuff, so there was no charge for this Rx. But I will never take this again."

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

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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."

• Kar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 20, 2022

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes for Bowel Preparation "So let me start off by saying everyone is different. MoviPrep has a strong fake citrus flavor, it was difficult for me to get down. I did not mix it with anything as it already had a sweet, salty taste. It's better cold, however, it gets warmer as you drink it. Since my doctor had me take Dulcolax 2 hours before, I was already on the toilet when having to drink the first container. I had a mixture 7 years ago that tasted better and only had to drink three 8 oz glasses at separate times. I wish I remembered the name of it. MoviPrep is doing its job. Some mild cramping. I agree with others... need soft tissue and wipes. I used Prep H wipes, the witch hazel helps!"

• Sar...
• March 28, 2022

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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."

• Sie...
• October 1, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I have taken other prep for endoscopies and colonoscopies before, but this time they put me on PEG 3350 for whatever reason. After 4+ hours, I only got through 1.5 glasses and had to stop. I experienced frequent vomiting, and with that, I never experienced any bowel movement. I had cramping, dizziness, just overall misery. My body flat-out rejected it, and it didn't matter if I sipped or gulped. It was going to come back up. Tasted like what you'd expect, but not the worst I've ever had. Had to cancel my colonoscopy because it's not clearing me out at all. A bummer and beyond uncomfortable, waste of time."

• Mea...
• July 23, 2021

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes 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."