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GaviLyte-C (Polyethylene Glycol and Electrolytes Solution): Side Effects, Uses, Dosage, Interactions, Warnings

GaviLyte-C

Medical Editor: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP Last updated on RxList: 5/22/2023

Drug Summary

What Is GaviLyte-C?

GaviLyte-C (PEG-3350, sodium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and potassium chloride) with flavor pack is a combination of an osmotic laxative and electrolytes indicated for bowel cleansing prior to colonoscopy or barium enema X-ray examination. GaviLyte-C is the generic of CoLyte.

What Are Side Effects of GaviLyte-C?

GaviLyte-C may cause serious side effects including:

  • hives,
  • difficulty breathing,
  • swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat,
  • vomit that is bloody or looks like coffee grounds,
  • chest pain,
  • fainting,
  • fast or irregular heartbeat,
  • sudden shortness of breath,
  • severe or persistent stomach,
  • bloody stools,
  • rectal bleeding,
  • seizure,
  • change in the amount of urine,
  • rash,
  • itching, and
  • severe dizziness

Get medical help right away, if you have any of the symptoms listed above.

Common side effects of GaviLyte-C include:

  • nausea,
  • abdominal fullness,
  • bloating,
  • abdominal cramps,
  • vomiting, and
  • anal irritation.

Seek medical care or call 911 at once if you have the following serious side effects:

  • Serious eye symptoms such as sudden vision loss, blurred vision, tunnel vision, eye pain or swelling, or seeing halos around lights;
  • Serious heart symptoms such as fast, irregular, or pounding heartbeats; fluttering in your chest; shortness of breath; and sudden dizziness, lightheadedness, or passing out;
  • Severe headache, confusion, slurred speech, arm or leg weakness, trouble walking, loss of coordination, feeling unsteady, very stiff muscles, high fever, profuse sweating, or tremors.

This document does not contain all possible side effects and others may occur. Check with your physician for additional information about side effects.

Dosage for GaviLyte-C

The recommended oral adult dose of GaviLyte-C is 240 mL (8 fl. Oz.) every 10 minutes. Patients should fast at least 3 hours prior to administration.

What Drugs, Substances, or Supplements Interact with GaviLyte-C?

GaviLyte-C may interact with oral medication administered within one hour of the start of administration of GaviLyte-C solution, antacids, medicines for blood pressure or heart problems, medicines for kidney problems, medicines for depression, water pills (diuretics), nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), or laxatives. Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

GaviLyte-C During Pregnancy or Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant before using GaviLyte-C; it is unknown if it will affect a fetus. It is unknown if GaviLyte-C passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Additional Information

Our GaviLyte-C (PEG-3350, sodium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and potassium chloride) with flavor pack Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

For Gastrointestinal Lavage

Description for GaviLyte-C

GaviLyte-C with flavor pack is a white, colon lavage preparation provided as water-soluble components for solution. This preparation with lemon flavor pack added delivers the following, in grams per liter:

Polyethylene glycol 3350-------- 60.00
Sodium chloride----------------- 1.46
Potassium Chloride --------------0.745
Sodium bicarbonate------------- 1.68
Sodium sulfate -------------------5.68
Flavor ingredients ----------------0.500

When dissolved in sufficient water to make 4 liters, the final solution contains 125 mEq/L sodium, 10 mEq/L potassium, 20 mEq/L bicarbonate, 80 mEq/L sulfate, 35 mEq/L chloride and 18 mEq/L polyethylene glycol 3350. The reconstituted solution is an isosmotic solution, for oral administration, having mild salty taste. This preparation can be used without the flavor pack and is administered orally or via nasogastric tube.

Each lemon flavor pack (2 g) contains natural lemon flavor powder, saccharin sodium, maltodextrin,

Uses for GaviLyte-C

GaviLyte-C with flavor pack is indicated for bowel cleansing prior to colonoscopy or barium enema X-ray examination.

Dosage for GaviLyte-C

GaviLyte-C with flavor pack can be administered orally or by nasogastric tube. Patients should fast at least 3 hours priorto administration. A one hour waiting period after the appearance of clear liquid stool should be allowed Rriorto examination to complete bowel evacuation, No foods except clear liquids should be permitted priorto examination after GaviLyte-C with flavor pack administration.

Oral

The recommended adult oral dose is 240 mL (8fl. Oz.) every 10 minutes (see PATIENT INFORMATION). Lavage is complete when fecal discharge is clear. Lavage is usually complete after the ingestion of 3 to 4 liters.

Nasogastric Tube

GaviLyte-C with flavor pack is administered at the rate of 20 to 30 mL per minute (1.2 to 1.8 L/hour).

Preparation Of GaviLyte-C with flavor pack Sglution

This preparation can be used with or without the lemon flavor pack.

  1. To add flavor, tear open lemon flavor pack at the indicated marking and pour contents into the bottle BEFORE reconstitution.
  2. SHAKE WELL to incorporate flavoring into the powder.
  3. Add tap water to FILL line. Replace cap tightly and mix or shake well until all ingredients have dissolved. (No other additional ingredients, e.g. flavorings, should be added to the solution.)

Note: If not using flavor pack, omit steps one and two, above.

HOW SUPPLIED

GaviLyte-C with flavor pack is supplied in 4 liter bottles with an attached lemon flavor pack. Each 4 liter bottle contains polyethylene glycol-3350 240 g, sodium chloride 5.84 g, potassium chloride 2.98 g, sodium bicarbonate 6.72 g, sodium sulfate {anhydrous) 22.72 g. This preparation is supplied in powdered form, for oral administration as a solution.

GaviLyte-C with flavor pack 4 liter : NDC 43386-060-19

Store at 20° to 25°C (68° TO 77°F): excursions permitted between 15° to 30°C (59° to 86°F).

KEEP RECONSTITUTED SOLUTION REFRIGERATED. USE WITHIN 48 HOURS. DISCARD UNUSED PORTION.

Manufactured by: Novel Laboratories, Inc., Somerset, NJ 08873, USA. Distributed by: GAVIS Pharmaceuticals, LLC., Somerset, NJ 08873, USA. RevISED: Aug 2012

Side Effects for GaviLyte-C

Nausea, abdominal fullness and bloating are the most common adverse reactions, occurring in up to 50% of patients. Abdominal cramps, vomiting and anal irritation occur less frequently. These adverse reactions are transient. Isolated cases of urticaria, rhinorrhea, dermatitis and rarely anaphylaxis, angioedema, tongue edema, and face edema have been reported, which may represent allergic reactions.

Drug Interactions for GaviLyte-C

Oral medication administered within one hour of start of administration of GaviLyte-C with flavor pack may be flushed from the gastrointestinal tract and not absorbed.

Warnings for GaviLyte-C

Flavor pack is for use only in combination with the contents of the accompanying 4 liter container. No other additional ingredients (e.g., flavorings) should be added to the solution. GaviLyte-C with flavor pack should be used with caution in patients with severe ulcerative colitis.

Precautions for GaviLyte-C

General

Patients with impaired gag reflex, unconscious or semiconscious patients and patients prone to regurgitation or aspiration should be observed during the administration of GaviLyte-C with flavor pack, especially if it is administered via nasogastric tube.

If gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation is suspected appropriate studies should be performed to rule out these conditions before administration of GaviLyte-C with flavor pack.

Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility

Studies to evaluate carcinogenic or mutagenic potential or potential to adversely affect male or female fertility have not been performed.

Pregnancy

Category C

Animal reproduction studies have not been conducted with GaviLyte-C with flavor pack, and it is not known whether GaviLyte-C with flavor pack can affect reproductive capacity or harm the fetus when administered to a pregnant patient GaviLyte-C with flavor pack should be given to a pregnant patient only if clearly needed.

Pediatric Use

Safety and effectiveness in pediatric patients have not been established.

Geriatric Use

Published literature contains isolated reports of serious adverse reactions following the administration of PEG-ELS products in patients over 60 years of age. These adverse events include upper Gl bleeding from Mallory-Weiss Tear, esophageal perforation, asystole, sudden dyspnea with pulmonary edema, and “butterfly-like” infiltrate on chest X-ray after vomiting and aspirating PEG.

Overdose Information for GaviLyte-C

No information provided.

Contraindications for GaviLyte-C

GaviLyte-C with flavor pack is contraindicated in patients known to be hypersensitive to any of the components. GaviLyte-C with flavor pack is contraindicated in patients with ileus, gastrointestinal obstruction, gastric retention, bowel perforation, toxic colitis or toxic megacolon.

Clinical Pharmacology for GaviLyte-C

GaviLyte-C with flavor pack cleanses the bowel by induction of diarrhea. The osmotic activity of polyethylene glycol 3350, in combination with the electrolyte concentration, results in virtually no net absorption or excretion of ions or water. Accordingly, large volumes may be administered without significant changes in fluid and electrolyte balance.

Patient Information for GaviLyte-C

GaviLyte-C with flavor pack produces a watery stool which cleanses the bowel prior to examination.

For best results, no solid food should be ingested during the 3 to 4 hour period prior to the initiation of GaviLyte-C with flavor pack administration. In no case should solid foods be eaten within 2 hours of drinking GaviLyte-C with flavor pack. The rate of administration is 240 mL (8 fl. oz.) every 10 minutes. Rapid drinking of each portion is preferred rather than drinking small amounts continuously. The first bowel movement should occur approximately one hour after the start of GaviLyte-C with flavor pack administration.

Administration of GaviLyte-C with flavor pack should be continued until the watery stool is clear and free of solid matter. This normally requires the consumption of approximately 3 to 4 liters (3 to 4 quarts), although more or less may be required in some patients. The unused portion should be discarded.

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