Polyethylene Glycol & Electrolytes

Polyethylene Glycol & Electrolytes is a prescription medication and over-the-counter medication used to treat Constipation and for Bowel Preparation.

• Polyethylene Glycol & Electrolytes is available under the following different brand names: GoLytely, MiraLax, Glycolax, GoEvac, CoLav, CoLyte, GaviLyte-C, GaviLyte-G, GaviLyte-N, NuLYTELY, Polyethylene Glycol Electrolyte Soln, Polyethylene Glycol Powder, TriLyte.

Adult and pediatric dosage

Packet, oral

• 17g/packet

Powder, oral

• 119g
• 238g
• 255g
• 510g
• 527g
• 850g

Sodium sulfate/sodium bicarbonate/sodium chloride/potassium chloride

Powder for solution

• 22.72g/6.72g/5.84g/2.98g (240g)
• 22.74g/6.74g/5.86g/2.97g (236g)
• 21.5g/6.36g/5.53g/2.82g (227.1g)

Sodium bicarbonate/sodium chloride/potassium chloride

Powder for solution

Adult dosage

• 5.72g/11.2g/1.48g(240g)
• 5.72g/11.2g/1.48g (420g) 

Pediatric dosage

• 5.72g/11.2g/1.48g (420g)

Bowel Preparation

Adult dosage

• Powder for solution: 240 mL (8 oz) of powder for solution orally every 10 minutes until 4 L consumed or rectal effluent is clear; rapid drinking of each amount preferred to drinking small continuously 
• NG: 20-30 mL/min until 4 L administered or rectal effluent clear
• Oral powder: 17 g (~1 heaping spoon) in 240 mL (8 oz) of clear liquid every 10 minutes until 2,000 mL of volume consumed (start within 6 hours after administered bisacodyl delayed-release tablets or magnesium citrate

Pediatric dosage

• Children younger than 6 months of age: Safety and efficacy not established

Powder for solution: 

• Children 6 months or older: 25 mL/kg/hr O/NG over 4-10 hours until rectal effluent is clear; total dose not to exceed 4 L. 

Constipation 

Adult dosage

• 17 g packet or ~1 heaping spoon of oral powder in 120-240 mL (4-8 oz) of beverage once daily; not to be used for over 1-2 weeks depending on product, unless directed by health care professional 

Pediatric dosage

• Neonate: Safety and efficacy not established. 

Packet/oral powder: 

• Infants, children, adolescents: 0.2-0.8 g/kg/day orally; not to exceed 17 g/day; individualize and adjust dosage to achieve desired effect; administer for no longer than 2 weeks; not to exceed 17 g/day

Dosage Considerations – Should be Given as Follows: 

• Use Medscape dosage information.

Common side effects of Polyethylene Glycol & Electrolytes include:

• vomiting, 
• stomach pain, 
• indigestion, 
• bloating, 
• rectal pain or irritation, 
• hunger, 
• thirst, 
• mild nausea, 
• trouble sleeping, 
• dizziness, and 
• chills

Serious side effects of Polyethylene Glycol & Electrolytes include:

• hives, 
• difficulty breathing, 
• swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat, 
• no bowel movement within 2 hours after use, 
• vomiting, 
• dizziness, 
• lightheadedness, 
• little or no urination, 
• seizure, 
• increased thirst or urination, 
• dry mouth, 
• confusion, 
• constipation, 
• muscle pain or weakness, 
• leg cramps, 
• irregular heartbeats, 
• tingly feeling, 
• gagging, 
• choking, 
• severe stomach pain, 
• bloating, 
• nausea, 
• vomiting, 
• headache, 
• trouble drinking liquids, 
• fever, 
• sudden or severe stomach pain, 
• severe diarrhea, 
• rectal bleeding, and
• bright red bowel movements

Rare side effects of Polyethylene Glycol & Electrolytes include:

• none 

This is not a complete list of side effects and other serious side effects or health problems may occur as a result of the use of this drug. Call your doctor for medical advice about serious side effects or adverse reactions. You may report side effects or health problems to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

If your medical doctor is using this medicine to treat your pain, your doctor or pharmacist may already be aware of any possible drug interactions and may be monitoring you for them. Do not start, stop, or change the dosage of any medicine before checking with your doctor, health care provider or pharmacist first.

• Polyethylene Glycol & Electrolytes has no noted severe interactions with any other drugs.
• Polyethylene Glycol & Electrolytes has no noted serious interactions with any other drugs. 
• Polyethylene Glycol & Electrolytes has no noted moderate interactions with any other drugs. 
• Polyethylene Glycol & Electrolytes has no noted minor interactions with any other drugs.

This information does not contain all possible interactions or adverse effects. Visit the RxList Drug Interaction Checker for any drug interactions. Therefore, before using this drug, tell your doctor or pharmacist of all the drugs you use. Keep a list of all your medications with you, and share the list with your doctor and pharmacist. Check with your physician if you have health questions or concerns.

Contraindications

• Hypersensitivity; ileus gastrointestinal obstruction, gastric retention, toxic colitis, bowel perforation, toxic megacolon

Effects of drug abuse

• None

Short-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Polyethylene Glycol & Electrolytes?”

Long-Term Effects

• See “What Are Side Effects Associated with Using Polyethylene Glycol & Electrolytes?”

Cautions

• Osmotic laxative products may produce colonic mucosal aphthous ulcerations, including reports of more serious cases of ischemic colitis necessitating hospitalization
• Concomitant use of stimulant laxatives may increase risk of ischemic colitis; not recommended; consider potential for mucosal aphthous ulceration as a result of bowel preparation, especially when evaluating colonoscopy results in patients with known or suspected inflammatory bowel disease
• Generalized tonic-clonic seizures and/or loss of consciousness reported in patients with no prior history of seizures, which resolved with correction of fluid and electrolyte abnormalities; use caution in patients with history of seizures or who are at increased risk of seizures, including concomitant administration of medications that lower seizures threshold, patients withdrawing from alcohol or benzodiazepines, and patients with unknown or suspected hyponatremia or low serum osmolality
• Use with caution and observe unconscious or semiconscious patients with impaired gag reflex or other swallowing abnormalities or those who are otherwise prone to regurgitation or aspiration during administration; observe these patients during administration, especially if it is administered via nasogastric tube
• Avoid use in patients with bowel obstruction, megacolon, perforated bowel, ulcerative colitis, toxic colitis, gastric retention
• Not indicated for children younger than 2 years because of risk of hypoglycemia, dehydration, and hypokalemia
• When using PEG as laxative, do not give for over 1 week
• Electrolyte imbalance reported with prolonged use
• Risk of fluid and electrolyte abnormalities; electrolyte abnormalities can lead to arrhythmias, seizures, and renal impairment; patients should maintain adequate hydration before, during, and after treatment; consider post colonoscopy lab test if patient becomes dehydrated or experiences significant vomiting after treatment
• May cause arrhythmia; use caution with patients at risk of cardiac arrhythmia, including unstable angina, congestive heart failure, recent MI, uncontrolled arrhythmias, or cardiomyopathy; may consider pre- and post- dose ECG in patients at risk
• Do not combine product with starch-based thickeners; polyethylene glycol (PEG), a component of the mixture, when mixed with starch-thickened liquids, reduces viscosity of the starch-thickened liquid; when a PEG-based product used for another indication was mixed in starch-based pre-thickened liquids used in patients with dysphagia, thinning of the liquid and cases of choking and potential aspiration were reported
• Use caution in patients with renal impairment and/or in patients taking medications that may adversely affect renal function, including ACE inhibitors, NSAIDs, diuretics, and ARBs; instruct patients with renal impairment to remain adequately hydrated; may consider pre- and post-dose lab tests (electrolytes, creatinine, BUN) in these patients; ensure adequate hydration, and consider laboratory testing
• Directly observe administration to patients at risk for aspiration
• Products are not for direct ingestion but require dilution with water
• Use caution in patients older than 60 years; serious adverse events reported

Pregnancy and Lactation

• Use with caution if benefits outweigh risks during pregnancy. 
• Lactation: No data available.