GOLYTELY Reviews (POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 3350; POTASSIUM CHLORIDE; SODIUM BICARBONATE; SODIUM CHLORIDE; SODIUM SULFATE, A)Average Rating: 2.9 (321 Ratings)Filter ResultsCompare GOLYTELY with similar:
Type: Rx Drug
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Results are sorted by Gender males first. Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.) |
More on GOLYTELY: Reviews Summary | Drug Safety Information
| RATING | REASON | SIDE EFFECTS FOR GOLYTELY | COMMENTS | SEX | AGE | DURATION/ DOSAGE | DATE ADDED |
| 5 | colonoscopy/endoscopy | None except for a "diaper rash" which went away quickly | After reading the other comments, I was really not looking forward to using this stuff. After the first glass, I am VERY happy to say there is no taste at all, in fact it was like drinking a cold glass of water. I'll give it a few more tries and update as necessary (If I'm able). Having finished the procedure I am fortunate that I experienced none of the problems mentioned in this blog. While it isn't something I would do for fun, the overall experience wasn't bad at all | M | 47 | 1 days 1 gallon 1X day | 3/19/2010 Patient History | 5 | Colonoscopy Prep | None | I'm glad I found this site and read all your comments as I was dreading the prep more than the procedure. I listened to my friend's wife who suggested eating light the day before going on all liquids. That helped a lot. I stuck to the clear liquids and drank a lot of water in anticipation. Another good tip was to mix it the morning before you're supposed to begin and mix it with Crystal Light Lemonade (4 packs to 4 liters). It was cold and while salty, really no where near as bad as everyone said. I chugged it as quickly as possible quaffing the first 2 liters last night in 40 minutes and the second this morning in 30. It acts very quickly and your stomach will let you know when to head to the bathroom. Surprisingly there was no straining and the actual discharge was primarily water. I blotted with toilet paper and used petroleum jelly between rounds. All in all I was only on the toilet off an on for about an hour and a half and was able to sleep through the night. | M | 50 | 2 days 1X day | 4/19/2010 | 5 | colonoscopy | We expected the worst! (Somewhat based on this board!) And found that Golytely tastes like salty seven up or other lemony fizzy drink. My DH, the colonoscpyee, is a very slow drinker, and I was concerned tht I would not be able to get him to drink all that 4 liters. We got some plastic cups, (Walmart) with straws attached, and carefully measured and marked out 8 ounce levels. I filled the cups with the Golytely, and put them all back in the fridge. Every 15/20 minutes, I would bring him the cup. He had some really stupid, funny CD's to watch, and when required, he would just suck it down. The cinnamon hard candy helped as a chaser, or some other liquid. It took him about 5 hours, and he finished all but the last cup, but was running clear by then. A little cramping, but not much. The procedure was a success, and they did not find anything significant. He is 81! | M | 81 | 4 liters 1X day | 6/23/2010 | 5 | Colonoscopy | Wow, I expected the worst and it wasn't bad at all. It's basically just salt water. I drank the last 8oz glass as easily as the first. I initially tried a straw, but I found I could just drink it faster without. I didn't use any flavoring or any other candy, lemon etc between drinks. I actually thought it was too chilled to drink fast, so I let it sit unrefridgerated for a while. It started taking effect about 1 hour after, and it cleared me out by the time I was done with the entire 4 litres. I had the colonoscopy yesterday and everything went well. | M | 37 | 4 Litres 1X day | 7/8/2010 | 5 | Colonoscopy exam | No problems. The drink was okay to say the least. I drank it and didn't think it was bad as most people said it was. Wimps to say the least. The only side effect I had was what the doctor said the drink would induce(Stooling). Other than that, it was what had to be done to get the procedure done the next day. They found no polyps and all was well. I'm fifty years old. | M | 50 | 1 days 30 MG 1X day | 7/9/2010 | 5 | Routine 50 year old colonoscopy | none | Clear liquids only until you start. Tea with sugar in the morning then 7 Up. Maintain your blood sugar. Reduces prep amount. 2 day with no flavorings. 8 glasses 1 every ten min. No problem drinking. Make it cold like they say. Drink an 8 oz glass non-stop. Mild salt taste and clear. I guess the Polyethlene glycol is what people complain about. You can stop and then start again. I did experiment with maple syrup but didn't need it. Will start to work in about a 1/2 hour with normal feelings. It is NOT hold your cheeks so it will not come out. You still have full control. You should go in the bathroom after you feel it. If you wait it gets absorbed and you will need more. This is why you never get full. Has electrolytes so no hunger. Output not clear yet and had a good night sleep. The 2 day prep is good to get used to it. At 5AM the next day I went more aggressively. Clear yellow after 5th glass. 2 more glasses to make sure then finished the last poop. Showered and got to hospital on time. In summary: You are in control and you want a good prep. There is no smell and no mess. Just follow procedure and set up a system. Only drank about 80% and would have been fine with less. I am normal with no particular aversions. I bet some people are wimps but there may also be valid medical reasons for problems. No problem with the procedure and I had an Endoscopy too. Don't pysch yourself up or listen to the hype. Tell others of your experience. It is not that big a deal. | M | 49 | 2 days 2x2Liters 1X day | 9/29/2010 | 5 | colonoscopy | With much advance planning, all due to the information contained in this website, my husband sailed thru the prep with ZERO adverse affects or issues and the procedure today was a piece of cake. He is happily sleeping off the anesthesia now. Minus unavoidable gas on the ride home from the hospital, the past 2 days have been like any other day, almost. I made him begin the soup and light food regime 2 days out to hopefully ease up on the prep process. Like others mentioned, be sure to make the gallon mixture the day before so it has time to chill. I prepoured it into 8 oz. bottles ready to chug down. The key, really, is to properly and adequately plan a few days ahead by printing out these pages, highlight what you need to gather up for the designated bathroom and what you need to buy, and make your grocery run, then lastly set up one bathroom with all the necessary items and let nature take its course. My husband used half a jar of vaseline throughout the prep process to defray soreness from excessive wiping, he wiped with Prep H cloths, I put a small spare heater to keep him warm, set up a beverage tub in the bathroom with 10 or so prepoured 8oz bottles of GoLyte plus numerous other beverages to chase it down with if necessary (it was not), 5 different types of Crystal Light flavor packets, a blanket, ample reading material, etc. Everything I did is contained herein. This website is a Godsend! | M | 65 | 1 days 10X day | 12/2/2010 | 5 | Colonoscopy | No Problems. Worked as Advertised | It tasted just like I was swallowing a big wave at the beach. I told the wife it just tasted like Sea Water. Started working about an hour after starting and drank it as directed in 8 oz. glass every 15 min. or so til 3/4 of it was consumed. Slept comfortably without incident then finished the solutuin the next day and was fully cleaned out well before heading to the procedure. Only Concern. BP was up when I went in and has not dropped in 4 days following. Whazzup with that? | M | 63 | 1 days 1X day | 1/7/2011 | 5 | Colonoscopy | None really, some discomfort, bloat. | This is my third colonoscopy because I had colon cancer. Pharmacist have me the generic which is Polyethylene glycol(PEG). To me it has very little taste, maybe a little salty. The one thing my nurse told me is that I didn't have to drink 8oz every 15 minutes. I could drink more, faster if I wanted. So I used a 16oz class and drank half the jug in an hour. I started at 6pm and was off the toilet by 8:30pm. NOTE-Bring jug of PEG and glass into the bathroom, there isn't much opportunity to go to the kitchen for refills :-) This worked a whole lot better than spending 3-4 hours on the throne. Next morning I repeated with the last half of the jug 5 hours before I left for the clinic. That is a new way to do it they told me. Split prep - Drink half the jug the night before, and the other half 4-5 hours before you leave home. | M | 53 | 2 days 4 liters 4X day | 1/11/2011 | 5 | colonoscopy prep | None | I get a colonoscopy almost every year due to a benign tumor that was removed from my colon in 2006, so I am now a Pro at taking golytely and almost never gag or puke when taking this vile solution. 1. It must be chilled--the colder, the better. 2. I always add the lemon-lime packet when making it up. 3. On the night of the prep, get a bendable straw and insert it into the glass, then put the straw as far back in your throat as you can and still be able to suck. 4. Position yourself in front of the sink (in case you gag), pinch your nose and then start sucking on the straw and don't stop until the glass of golytely is gone. Do not stop pinching the nose yet! 5. Insert a lemon drop hard candy into your mouth and start rolling it all around the tongue. 6. As you unpinch your nose, breath out hard forcing the smell out of your nostrils! 7. Take a small drink of cold water to mix with the lemon drop in your mouth. Additional info: my doctor gave me permission to mix some ginger ale with each glass that I drink of the golytely, but you must get permission from your doctor before doing so. Tonight I am prepping for colonoscopy #8 since 2006 so I fully understand the gagging and vomiting problem. The straw/lemon-drop/nose pinch routine has enabled to go without vomiting since procedure prep #2. I am always able to swallow the entire container of golytely, which enables the doctor to fully visualize a clean colon. I get many polyps so a successful prep is essential to my health. | M | 54 | 1 days 1X day | 2/3/2011 | 5 | Constipation | Mild Cramping | I was prescribed this drug because I was constipated and unable to pass a BM, I would have to say that this drug while not pleasent to drink nor is it pleasent ... well in any way ... it really helped, it took about 50ish minutes for it to fully kick in and for me to pass my first BM.. the only thing I warn is DO NOT LEAVE THE TOILET! I was on the toilet for a good 6 to 7 hours following taking this ... I only had to drink 3 of the 4 liters that was in the jug before my BM turned clear (mild yellow discoloration), the only side effect that I am not liking that much is having the urge to and occasionally having to run to the toilet to empty out some little bits of water that were taking their time creeping down my GI tract. | M | 25 | 1 days 4L 1X day | 6/23/2011 | 5 | Prep for colonoscopy | Very slight pressure in head. | I have read a lot of negative comments about Golytely but I think that's probably due to lack of preparation on the part of the individual. The day before I started my prep, I only drank freshly juiced fruits and vegetables, so that made it easier to transition to clear liquids only. As for the taste of the Golytely itself, I had that covered because before I committed to taking the whole 4L of Golytely, I tried one teaspoon in 8 oz of hot water and drank that first. It tasted like salt water. What also helped me is that, each morning I usually drink the juice of a whole lemon in a glass of hot water. This morning I did the same thing, and after that the Golytely had hardly any taste at all. Thereafter, I was able to drink the whole 4L without any flavoring. However, I strongly advise that before and after each dose of Golytely, you drink some Gatorade (not the pink lemonade or any red liquid) to keep your electrolytes balanced, that way you won't pass out or get dizzy. Also drink some water or juice after each bowel movement. Don't be too picky about following the directions exactly on time. If you can't chug it, don't. If you can't drink 8oz every 15 minutes, do it every 20 or longer. In my case, once I'd tried it in an 8oz glass and it was fine, I switched to 16oz every half hour. Pace yourself. Do what is comfortable for you. If you don't like it cold, drink it at room temperature. Coming out the other end, blot, don't wipe. Good luck! | M | 48 | 1 days 4L 1X day | 7/25/2011 | 5 | Colonoscopy | Worked well to "flush" the colon. Two comments: it is a poor substitute for a decent meal (a lot to drink) and tastes like what I would expect liquid plastic to taste like. | M | 70 | 1 days 4 liters | 9/3/2013 | 5 | surgery prep | none really just diarrhea but that's pretty normal given that it's a laxative. | Didn't really have much of a problem drinking this stuff besides having to drink a lot. If you have a problem with the taste or experience nausea just take a break and also try drinking this with a clear liquid of your choice. I've had to drink magnesium citrate before and find that it is far worse than the GoLYTELY. I had to drink this stuff in 2009 for surgery prep and had to do it again all day Monday. I wish readers good luck if they have to encounter this drug, Best wishes. | M | 19 | 1 days 1.5 gal 1X day | 8/2/2013 | 5 | Routine Colonoscopy | None | First off, I truly empathize with those who have had problems with this drug. My instructions were to drink 12 oz. every 20 minutes until the jug was finished. I mixed it straight without any flavoring. I started off with a small sip just to see how awful it tasted. I don't know, maybe my taste buds are shot, but it basically tasted like flat alka seltzer and I had no problems at all drinking it. It worked like it was supposed to and I had no problems. I would definitely use it in the future if medically required. | M | 54 | 1 days 1 Gallon 1X day | 4/13/2012 | 5 | colonoscopy | None | Worked very well and the taste wasn't as bad as I thought. I drank it while it was ice cold and put a little lemonade it. This is my second time having a colonoscopy. I found not eating the day before helped me get clear much faster. I only drank about half of the gallon given and everything went well. | M | 50 | 1 days 1X day | 6/3/2012 | 5 | 50+ | Mild cramping. Diarrhea (big surprise) | I was terrified of the prep. I read every review on here, as well as everything on the net pertaining to golytely. I was so afraid of having a miserable experience. In the end, my fears were unfounded. I did a couple things that may have helped. My procedure was scheduled for Monday, so on Wednesday the week prior, I started to eat light. I also began my liquid diet two days prior to my procedure instead of one. I began my golytely at 6 pm Sunday night mixing it with Crystal Lite lemonade mix. It tasted like, lemonade, with a bit of fluoride mixed in. I drank it through a straw as quickly as I could (maybe 30 - 45 seconds per glass). I had a glass about every 15 minutes. I experienced no gagging, nausea and vomiting, My only discomfort came from drinking so much liquid. My Diarrhea happened lightly, but with regularity. It may have had something to do with my early prep. I had to drink 2l by 9pm, and then get up at 3am to drink the remaining 2l. I made it through 3l total. I could have drank all of it, but my stools were clear (actually looked like pee), and I wanted to be done with the pooping before I went to the hospital. After the first couple episodes, it was literally like "peeing through your butt." (sorry to be so graphic). I didn't have any cramping until I went to bed at about 10:30 or 11. Prior to that, I just had some gurgling in my stomach. All in all, it wasn't a bad experience at all, and I wouldn't hesitate to do it again | M | 52 | 1 days 4L 1X day | 12/10/2012 | 5 | Colonoscopy | The only bad thing is that by the time you are done, your anus is very sore from going so often. | I mixed the solution and let it chill in the frig for about six hours and drank it cold. The taste is more of a salt water solution, which while not the best thing to drink, was not too unpleasant. I drank it with a straw, eight ounces at a time, every 10 min. It seams as fast as you drank it you were on the toilet. I rinsed my mouth out with a small amout of water with a little lemon juice mixed in which did away with any after taste. I finished at 9PM and was done going to the toilet by 10PM. I thought it would be much worse. | M | 57 | 1 days | 8/6/2009 | 5 | Colonoscopy | Very minor bloating and discomfort several times just before I had to evacuate. Otherwise no real side effects noticed. | This product made my colonoscopy not be such a negative undesirable examination. It is the best laxative preparation I have ever used. The electrolyte solution made a lot of difference compared to other laxatives that were prescribed in the past. I did not go through the brain dead, sapped physical feeling that I always get when using other products. Another really good thing, I recovered very well without having a ravenous appetite. The electrolyte really made a difference. I did not mind the taste, but it did become a little more difficult to get it down after the 3rd hour of drinking it at 15 minute intervals. It worked rather quickly. The next time I have to cleans my bowl I want to use this product. | M | 63 | 1 days | 10/3/2009 | 5 | Colonoscopy Prep | Some Bloating | My husband had his first colonoscopy this am and prepped yesterday using the GoLytely liquid. Overall, he said the process was much better than he expected it to be. The hardest part for him was drinking so much liquid in such a short amount of time. He felt somewhat bloated. Once he finished drinking the contents, the liquid did its job and he completed evacuated his bowels over the next few hours. Was finished by the time he went to bed. Woke up this am feeling fine (but hungry). Colonoscopy went well. He had heard horror stories about the prep, but he said he would definitely use this liquid again if he has another colonoscopy down the road (although he has no other products to compare it to since this is his first colonoscopy). Product worked for him. | M | 41 | 1 days | 11/16/2009 |
GOLYTELY (POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 3350; POTASSIUM CHLORIDE; SODIUM BICARBONATE; SODIUM CHLORIDE; SODIUM SULFATE, A): PEG (polyethylene glycol) with electrolyte is used to clean out the intestines before certain bowel exam procedures such as colonoscopy or barium enema X-rays. It is a laxative that works by drawing large amounts of water into the colon. This effect results in watery bowel movements. Clearing stool from the intestines helps your doctor to better examine the intestines during your procedure. FDA Approval Date: 1984-07-13 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)