bisacodyl and polyethylene glycol (PEG-3350) with electrolytes

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bisacodyl and polyethylene glycol (PEG-3350) with electrolytes

Pronunciation: bis a KOE dil and pol ee ETH il een GLYE kol

Brand: GaviLyte-H and Bisacodyl with Flavor Packs

What is the most important information I should know about bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

Use only as directed. Tell your doctor if you use other medicines or have other medical conditions or allergies.

What is bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

Bisacodyl and PEG-3350 is a laxative that is used to clean the bowel before a colonoscopy.

Bisacodyl and PEG-3350 may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

You should not use this medicine if you have:

a bowel obstruction or severe constipation;
perforation (a hole or tear) of your intestines;
toxic colitis or toxic megacolon; or
slow digestion or problems with food emptying from your stomach.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

a stomach or intestinal disorder (such as ulcerative colitis or gastric reflux);
an electrolyte imbalance (such as low blood levels of potassium or sodium);
kidney disease;
heart problems;
trouble swallowing;
a seizure; or
withdrawal from alcohol or a benzodiazepine (such as Valium or Xanax).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

How should I take bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Drink plenty of water before, during, and after your bowel cleanse. You may get dehydrated easily while using bisacodyl and PEG-3350.

This medicine contains a bisacodyl tablet and also a PEG-3350 powder to mix into a solution. You will take the tablet first and then drink the solution once you begin having bowel movements.

Prepare the solution as follows:

Mix the powder with 2 liters of water.
Shake well until the powder dissolves completely.
Add one of the supplied flavor packs if desired. Do not add other flavorings such as sugar, honey, juice, sweetener, or other beverages.
Keep the solution at room temperature or in a refrigerator until you are ready to start drinking it. Do not keep beyond 48 hours after mixing.

Swallow each tablet whole and do not crush, chew, or break it. Take with a full glass of water.

After taking the tablets you should have a bowel movement within 1 to 6 hours.

Once you have a bowel movement, drink 8 ounces of the solution every 10 minutes. Drink each portion as quickly as possible rather than sipping it slowly.

If you have severe stomach discomfort, stop drinking the solution or drink it more slowly at longer intervals.

Watery bowel movements should begin within 1 hour after you start drinking the solution.

Call your doctor if you cannot drink all of the solution as prescribed in time for your colonoscopy. The test may need to be rescheduled.

Be sure to finish the entire 2 liters of solution, following the schedule your doctor recommends.

On the day of your colonoscopy, do not eat solid food or drink anything other than clear liquids.

Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink for at least 24 hours before and after your colonoscopy.

Store unopened bisacodyl and PEG-3350 at room temperature, away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

Call your doctor if you can't drink all of the solution at the scheduled times.

What happens if I overdose?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

Do not use other laxatives.

Avoid taking an antacid within 1 hour before or after you take the bisacodyl tablet.

Avoid taking other medicines, vitamins, or mineral supplements within 1 hour before you start drinking the solution. Your body will not properly absorb medications you take during this time.

What are the possible side effects of bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Stop using bisacodyl and PEG-3350 and call your doctor at once if you have:

no bowel movement within 6 hours after use;
severe nausea, severe stomach pain or bloating;
rectal bleeding;
irregular heartbeats;
headache, confusion, or a seizure;
dehydration symptoms --feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin; or
signs of an electrolyte imbalance --increased thirst or urination, constipation, muscle pain or weakness, leg cramps, numbness or tingling, feeling jittery, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest, or a choking feeling.

Tell your doctor right away if you have trouble drinking clear liquid.

Common side effects may include:

feeling full or uncomfortable;
stomach cramps;
nausea, vomiting; or
bloating.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What other drugs will affect bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

an antidepressant;
a diuretic or "water pill";
heart or blood pressure medication; or
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) --aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect bisacodyl and PEG-3350, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

Where can I get more information?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about bisacodyl and PEG-3350.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Copyright 1996-2023 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01. Revision date: 6/29/2021.

Your use of the content provided in this service indicates that you have read, understood and agree to the End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by End-User License Agreement, which can be accessed by clicking on this link.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

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bisacodyl and polyethylene glycol (PEG-3350) with electrolytes

What is the most important information I should know about bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

What is bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

How should I take bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

What happens if I miss a dose?

What happens if I overdose?

What should I avoid while taking bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

What are the possible side effects of bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

What other drugs will affect bisacodyl and PEG-3350?

Where can I get more information?

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