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 Satisfaction highest to lowest. 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 |
| 4 | test | had no unusual side effects | after reading the comments, I was very nervous about using this. I put a clear solo cup in the freezer and got it very cold and used a little crystal light lemonade. Sucked on a lemon and drank it very fast. Did not use a straw as I wanted to get it down as fast as possible. The taste was not that bad. Didn't have any trouble getting it down. Felt a little bloated but other than that it started working in about 45 min. I worried a lot for nothing. Don't want to do it again, but could. | F | 51 | 2 days 1X day | 9/18/2011 | 4 | Prep for Hysterectomy | mildly sore anus | This was DEFINITELY NOT as bad as the reviews I have read. The solution tastes like Saline solution or contact lense solution. I had the option of adding a lemon flavor packet, but elected not to use it. I had to drink 8 oz every 10 minutes. I bought some minute maid cran/apple/raspberry juice and just took a sip before and after the golytely. worked fine. I started to go to the bathroom about 40 minutes after I started the solution and very consisently since it's onset. At the point that I am typing this I have consumed 136 oz of the solution and am definitely running clear. I have about 3 more glasses to go. I found that NOT wiping, but rather patting, was very helpful. Also staying on the toilet for a few rounds rather than trying to wipe get up just to sit down again was very helpful. I did not experience any nausea. At first I felt very waterlogged... kind of like a full feeling, but now I'm hungry! Don't go into this with any pre-conceived notions about it. Stay positive and you will fair well. I am extremely prone to vomiting (sometimes even gagging when I brush my teeth) and I have had no problems with the medication other than a mildly sore anus which is tolerable and understandle. :) | F | 40 | 1 days 8oz 1X O | 8/23/2011 | 4 | colonoscopy prep | None unexpected | Drank 16 oz / half hour starting at 3pm day before procedure. Took 5 hours, I slacked after awhile. I added lemon flavor pack, plus a lemonade Crystal lite. Cut up a lime to numb my tastebuds. I limed, drank 10 swallows, limed, finished the glass, limed, each time. It is an electrolyte, therefore salty, liquid, which draws fluid into your gut to flush them. Started working at 40 minutes, and every 10 minutes after. YES YOU CAN PEE OUT YOUR BUTT. The brown stopped after three or so times, then it turns to yellow/orange liquid. I used petroleum jelly to protect around the exit, but it BURNS the exit point nonetheless. I advise rinsing off with water after every elimination...bidet, shower, sink rinse, whatever. I hour after finishing, I had to drink one bottle of Magnesium Citrate, a weird lemon lime. Then proceeded to go even more for the next five hours(2 am got a break). It was blessed when I took a shower(the stuff foams in the shower). That's when I discovered that rinsing the area was wonderful. No nausea or cramping... you can hear your bowels moving and RUN DON'T WALK to the loo 'cause its-a-coming! I stopped being hungry around 11 am, drank a bottle of clear juice and then a bottle of Cream Soda in between the prep, had a bowl of boullion for "dinner" which tasted good, then drank a ton of water all the way until midnight. The prep will dehydrate you so consume as much liquid as you can to compensate. Procedure went fine, no polyps. | F | 56 | 1 days 1 gallon 8X day | 8/15/2011 | 4 | colonoscopy | split prep, took over 5 hours to start working but was not a violent reaction | wasn't offered a flavor pack and the taste made my throat want to close. The 1st afternoon, I tried adding some agave nectar and it helped a great deal, but after awhile was sick of so much sweet. Had good beginning results, but not for over 5 hrs after starting! Reaction was not violent and was able to get about 4 hrs uninterrupted sleep. Next morning hit on a brilliant sollution! Added solution to 1/2 cup fairly strong coffee and could hardly taste it. (was like adding a touch of salt to a bitter cup) Was much more pleasant and I imagine if yours came with a lemon flavoring, then a nice strong tea brew would work as well. Still not running clear, but have another 2 hours. Hoping for the best for myself and everyone else here. Down the hatch!!! | F | 52 | 2 days gallon 1X day | 8/12/2011 | 4 | colonoscopy prep | Bloating, mild headache, chills/shivering, fatigue, vomitting | Instructions were to complete 2L the evening before the procedure, drinking 8 oz. every 15 minutes (8 glasses); then finish the remaining 2L at 4 a.m. the day of the procedure. The last 2L (8 glasses) that morning had to be finished by 5 a.m.! I threw up on glass #3, but "regrouped" and started again. On glass #6, I started throwing up again so decided to forego the last 2 glasses. By that time, I was running clear, although it was a clear, yellow color since I was mixing it with Crystal light. No cramping, but lots of bloating until I began having bowel movements (about 1.5 hours after the first dose). | F | 50 | 2 days 8 oz. 8X day | 3/28/2011 | 4 | colonoscopy prep | After drinking 6-8 ounce glasses I was unable to keep it down. | I was to start taking Golytely 2 days prior to colonoscopy: initially was told to drink 8 - 8 ounce glasses starting on the early afternoon for 2 days prior and an additional 8 - 8 ounce glasses on the morning of colonoscopy. As mentioned on the first day I was unsuccessful but the next day prior to colonoscopy I drank 1 - 8 ounce glass approximately every 30 to 40 minutes and was able to keep it down. It took me all day and I had to drink 14 - 8 ounce glasses. Also, the morning of the proceodure I spaced it out and was able to keep it down. I did find that the Golytely which had been refrigerated for more than 24 hours was very tolerable. I used the wine chiller in the fridge to cool the second bottle! Not much of a wine drinker so the first time I had tried that feature! I appreciate all the advice from the postings here - they were very helpful. | F | 62 | 3 days 1X day | 3/26/2011 | 4 | Colonoscopy | This is my 3rd colonoscopy with Golytely. I always get the unflavored type and mix it with Lemonade Crystal Light. Chill it a little bit. Slightly salty taste underneath, but I didn't find it offensive. Usually, toward the end it's hard to get down the last glass or two of "lemonade," but, this time, it wasn't bad at all. Guess I'm getting used to it. As others have said, I "ran clear" long before finishing the whole 4 L jug. But I finished it anyway. | F | 57 | 1 days 4 L 1X day | 3/22/2011 | 4 | Colonoscopy | None | This horrid, viscous preparation is quite awful. When I lived overseas, I used a much easier preparation with 2 little bottles, which I mixed with flavored water (added up to about 1 cup each!). This primitive Golytely stuff is a disaster. It's far too much. There's no reason in the world to have 4 liters and 4 hours of torture. I coped with the stuff by sipping some lemonade before, during and after each 15-minute portion. I also sipped apple juice between portions. I put a jar of vaseline nearby just in case, but I never needed it. The "water works" went very smoothly, without irritation, bloating, nausea or mess. I'll demand those 2 little bottles in the future. | F | 59 | 1 days 4 liters 4X H | 3/7/2011 | 4 | Colonoscopy | delayed bowel evacuation, stomach gurgling | I like a couple other poster found some of your post QUITE humorous. I found the solution to taste salty and slick....like I would imagine the olive oil diet would taste. For me the two problems were: volume of fluids I had to ingest, and temperature (I rarely drink cold fluids unless its summertime.) I was told to use the spilt prep method 8oz every 10 min for 8 doses the evening before my procedure AND begin again at 6am the day of the procedure 8oz every 10 min until the jug was empty. I began the nite before at 7:10PM my FIRST bowel movement came at 5:04AM! Luckily, everything was as it should be by the time I got to my appointment at 1pm. Procedure went fine HOWEVER afterwards the PAIN from the air was almost debilitating. Nurse said i should try to make it come out the same end it went end but of course all i could manager was a meek burp. Per Nurse, I tried using the restroom, and after discharge i tried walking (around the parking lot.) Nurse advised me to get some gas-x.(wonder why THEY couldn't have provided a tab or two???) Took two gas-x and didnt get relief til around 6pm (about 2 hours after I had come home and gone straight to bed). So my piece of advice-- wear bottoms with elastic waist-- just in case of painful gas (air) | F | 52 | 2 days 8 oz 1X O | 2/23/2011 | 4 | Colonoscopy | Doctor had me on the half gallon Golytely the day before and half gallon early morning the colonoscopy day. Very mild feeling of forehead pain at the end of the 3-4 a.m., half gallon, 16 Oz series. The 16 Oz dosage was my own idea to go through the half gallons fast. Both the day-before colonoscopy and early morning I had easy dumping of liquid with no discomfort on or around anus despite of a known fissure in annal sphincter. | This is a kind of mild salty solution; since I like salty foods, it was a breeze to drink the stuff. Golytely did not leave a bad aftertaste however, I would not drink it for pleasure, I rather drink red wine for pleasure (no dark or red-colored foods before the procedure doctor said, only clear stuff). I am always on a before breakfast daily diet of one spoonful each of powdered psyllium, flex-seed and quinoa mixed in 16 Oz of water. This drink is followed later by 16 Oz of fresh vegetable juice (carrots, celery, beets, cucumber and lemon) with my daily stack of vitamins and supplements. Afterward, I have a brunch. Thus my digestive track is most of the times kind of flushed anyway. They tell me that at 67 years young I look forty-sh. I eat any kind of home coked food, meat once a week though. I think because of the before breakfast diet, I was ready for an easy transition to Golytely. The day before the fast-day, I had a normal dinner made up of couple glasses of red wine, plenty of green salad and tasty (day-old) black bean soup enhanced with corn-flower (Maseca) dumplings these seasoned with olive oil, egg-whites and cilantro herb. The day before the colonoscopy, I started the Golytely drinking marathon at 3 pm, 16 Oz., every 15-20 min 'til the half gallon was done. After one hour, I was taking the fluidized dumps. Clear liquid came out after a third easy dump, no emergencies, I was able to walk to the commode with a timely early warning. To take my mind off the | M | 67 | 1 days 16 Oz 4X H | 2/22/2011 | 4 | Colonoscopy prep | None | I was dreading taking Golytely, but to be completely honest, it wasn't bad at all. It did take about an hour and a half for it to begin working, but once it started, I just planted myself in the bathroom with a good book and waited until I was done. I didn't have any bloating, cramping, nausea, nothing. The taste of the Golytely wasn't great, but it was completely bearable. I just plugged my nose and gulped down each glass, followed by a swish and sip of lemon-lime Gatorade. Not a big deal at all. | F | 23 | 1 days 8 oz 4X H | 2/20/2011 | 4 | routine colonoscopy | mild bloating | I was dreading the prep process as I have prepped for other GI tests before and they were awful. After reading this forum and getting some excellent advice from the nurse and a pharmacist I had no problems with the prep. I was told to drink 8 oz. of the Golytely every 15 minutes until it was all gone and to take the anti-nausea drugs they gave me (Reglan) if I felt any nausea. I can assure you that I would have been miserable if I had done that. Instead I took the Reglan 30 minutes before I started the prep. I mixed the Golytely early in the day so it would be super cold. I mixed in lemonade flavored Crystal Light with the Golytely that I poured in empty water bottles. I drank about 5 oz. (Dixie cup) every 20 minutes. If I started feeling too bloated I slowed it down to every 25 or 30 minutes. I was told that it was okay to stop once I had only clear liquid coming out. I went about 20 ounces past that just to make sure. Actually you want what is coming out to match what is going in so if you are adding lemonade Crystal Light then it will be pale yellow. I had no nausea which is unusual for me as I get nauseous at the drop of a hat. I also had no cramping at all and next to no bloating. I used lots of Vaseline and Tucks to keep the soreness manageable. My way takes longer than the suggested instructions do, but it was so much easier. The only change I would make would be to start earlier in the day so I would get more sleep at night. I started at 4:00 pm and finished about 11 | F | 53 | 1 days 4 liters 4X H | 1/18/2011 | 4 | colonoscopy | Gag-reflex (never was much of a swallower), nausea, chills, cold hands & feet, worst part is the pain in my hip joints from sitting on the toilet so long and the raging fire from my anus. | My procedure wasn't until 4pm so I started the "process" at 7:30am. I just finished my last glass at 12:30pm. I intially started with 8 oz. every 15 minutes, by the 3rd glass it started to work. I didn't have enough time between expulsions to refill so I brought the whole jug to the BR. I did the straw method, but I seriously couldn't hack the gag-reflex. After 2 liters and 2 hours, I took a break for an hour and slept to take my mind off the my misery. The last 2 liters I decided to go the 16 oz. route, 4 x's in an hour. (sip of Sprite chaser each time) WAY easier to get through. Now I'm camped out on the john waiting for the water works to stop. My burning anus is NOT ready for what I've been getting it ready for... | F | 52 | 1 days 4 liters 10X day | 12/27/2010 | 4 | colonoscopy | Getting a colonoscopy in the morning. 4 days before, I stopped all solids that are hard to digest (red meat, beans, rice, high fiber food)The day before colonoscopy I only had clear liquids (lemon jello,ginger ale, chicken broth, water) Started at noon by taken 4 Dulcolax and 4 hours later 8 oz, every 10 mins, of cold golytely (lemon flavor). I found from my fasting with low fiber, mainly white food for 4 days made this whole experience so much better. By the time I consumed 7, 8 oz of golytely, I was running clear bowel movements. I read all the other advices and prepared myself and it really paid off. Make sure to have vasoline in the bathroom and use it after every bowel movement. Don't rub, just blot when wiping. Keep hydrated and warm. It's 7pm the night before, and I am feeling fine. Still running to the bathroom, but all is clear. I highly recommend cutting your food consumption down before this procedure. Also I have not ate red meat for 2 yrs and I am sure that has alot to do | Taking Golytely with lemon flavor, chilling it, and drinking it with a straw, fast, work great for me. | F | 60 | 1 days 6X H | 12/7/2010 | 4 | Colonoscopy | Gaging, shivering and drop in body temperature, bloating | First of all: do not reccomend using the "pineapple" flavoring packet. I have no idea how it tastes with out the packets, but Pinapple is definately not the way to go! Also don't push yourself. I feel much better when I take it slower. It may be a pain, but it's better than severe cramps or vomiting. My biggest complaint besides gaging with each swallow is how incredibly cold I feel. I can' t quit shivering with every swallow, (although I'm sure this is due to the fact that it's cold. I would probably do this with any cold beverage.) My advice: Ask for another method before Golytely. It's incredibly difficult to get down but I guess it is doable. Still working on my jug. I'm hoping to at least get 3 liters in before morning. Going to be a long night! | F | 24 | 1 days 4 liters 1X H | 11/3/2010 | 4 | Colonoscopy Screening | None | I want to thank everyone for their tips and suggestions as many helped me through my first colonoscopy experience. I decided to come back to this site now that I've completed the procedure to tell those of you who are awaiting your first colonoscopy not to be frightened by some of the comments left on here. I respect that some people did have adverse reactions to the Golytely, but I wanted to offer some reassurance that I did not find the laxative to be too bad. It mostly tastes like salt water with an aftertaste. The tips that worked the best for me were to mix up the drink the night before and refrigerate it overnight. Then measure out the required 8 oz. cups and gulp quickly, trying to think about something else. Have a lemon wedge handy, and immediately after gulping, suck on the lemon wedge. This helped me a great deal with the aftertaste. My nurse told me I could mix Crystal Lite flavoring with the glasses of Golytely once it was poured into the glasses (don't mix directly into the jug); however, I just drank the stuff plain. I also highly recommend eating lightly a few days before, sticking to healthy food/bland food. Remember, what you put into your body must come out, so best to get regular bowel movements before beginning the laxatives. If you are worried about the actual colonoscopy, don't be...I slept through the whole thing! Good luck to you, and give yourself a pat on the back for completing this important cancer screening. | F | 51 | 2 days 2 Liters 1X day | 9/18/2010 | 4 | Routine colonoscopy | It started to work within 45 minutes of the first dose. I stayed on the toilet for about two hours and that helped to alleviate the irritation from repeated wiping. Went to bed and woke up at 5 a.m. with a severe headache and began throwing up until the procedure at 8. Threw up after the colonoscopy as well. | I only consumed a little more than half of the 4 liters and was cleaned out sufficiently to have the colonoscopy. Glad i didn't take the whole bottle, since i was throwing up the next morning. | F | 50 | 1 days 6X H | 8/26/2010 | 4 | Colonoscopy Prep | Some abdominal bloating and headache (not sure if headache was related, though). | Worked as advertised, other than taking about two hours before first post-treatment bowel movement. This was my second time with this treatment, and it has worked well both times. It tastes like slightly salty water. It does get tiresome to drink an entire gallon, so the last few glassfulls require commitment. I highly recommend mixing it up a few hours before taking and then refreigerating it - it tastes much better chilled. Back to eating normal food without incident less than a day after the prep. | M | 45 | 1 days 1 Gallon 1X day | 7/26/2010 | 4 | colonoscopy | Bloating which was expected | I had the spit-prep GoLytely which meant I started with 12 eight-ounce cups taken one every 15 min and then 5 hours before the procedure, 4 eight-ounce cups taken one every 15 min. The GoLytely came with a flavor packet which I used. It was like drinking lemon-flavored water - not thick, not particularly salty tasting. It wasn't terribly pleasant but then I doubt that drinking that much cola or any other drink that quickly would be terribly pleasant. But it's do-able. I didn't need any other flavorings, hard candy, Popsicles, etc. although I had them on hand just in case. I was hungry but, again, that didn't even bother me that much. Maybe it was because I was so apprehensive after reading all the comments but the whole thing wasn't that bad. The colonoscopy went well although I was scheduled for 8 AM and didn't get in until 12:30 PM because of a mix-up with my insurance. My doctor used an anesthesiologist and twilight sleep so I don't remember any of it ... thank goodness! ... and no problems were found ... thank goodness! | F | 60 | 1 days 2X O | 7/19/2010 | 4 | colonoscopy | Cleaned out my plumbing. | I didn't find it was as bad as everyone is saying. It's a clear, slightly syrupy liquid without much of a taste. Except that it has an odd aftertaste. Maybe a bit like okra. I like the idea of drinking each cup as fast as you can, and chasing it with a lime wedge (a la tequilla shots). The biggest issue for me is I'm just tired of consuming liquids all day and would kill for solid food. Even a greasy Egg McMuffin. | F | 54 | 1 days 1X O | 7/8/2010 |