Description
Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and electrolytes combination solution is used to cleanse the colon (bowel) before certain medical tests (eg, colonoscopy) or colon surgery.
PEG-electrolyte solution is a laxative. It works by causing you to have diarrhea to clean your colon. Cleaning your colon will help your doctor see the inside of your colon more clearly during colonoscopy or other procedures.
This medicine is available only with your doctor's prescription.
This product is available in the following dosage forms:
- Powder for Solution
Before Using
In deciding to use a medicine, the risks of taking the medicine must be weighed against the good it will do. This is a decision you and your doctor will make. For this medicine, the following should be considered:
Allergies
Tell your doctor if you have ever had any unusual or allergic reaction to this medicine or any other medicines. Also tell your health care professional if you have any other types of allergies, such as to foods, dyes, preservatives, or animals. For non-prescription products, read the label or package ingredients carefully.
Pediatric
Appropriate studies have not been performed on the relationship of age to the effects of Suflave® solution in the pediatric population. Safety and efficacy have not been established.
Geriatric
Appropriate studies performed to date have not demonstrated geriatric-specific problems that would limit the usefulness of Suflave® solution in the elderly. However, elderly patients are more likely to have age-related heart, kidney, or liver problems, which may require caution in patients using this medicine.
Breastfeeding
There are no adequate studies in women for determining infant risk when using this medication during breastfeeding. Weigh the potential benefits against the potential risks before taking this medication while breastfeeding.
Drug Interactions
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
- Eplerenone
- Fesoterodine
- Glycopyrrolate
- Trospium
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Alacepril
- Amiloride
- Baloxavir Marboxil
- Benazepril
- Bisacodyl
- Canrenoate
- Captopril
- Chlorpromazine
- Chlortetracycline
- Cilazapril
- Ciprofloxacin
- Delafloxacin
- Delapril
- Demeclocycline
- Digoxin
- Dolutegravir
- Doxycycline
- Eltrombopag
- Elvitegravir
- Enoxacin
- Eravacycline
- Fosinopril
- Gatifloxacin
- Gemifloxacin
- Grepafloxacin
- Imidapril
- Indomethacin
- Iron
- Levofloxacin
- Levomethadyl
- Licorice
- Lisinopril
- Lomefloxacin
- Lymecycline
- Meclocycline
- Methacycline
- Minocycline
- Moexipril
- Moxifloxacin
- Norfloxacin
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
- Delafloxacin
- Felodipine
- Isradipine
- Licorice
- Nicardipine
Other Interactions
Certain medicines should not be used at or around the time of eating food or eating certain types of food since interactions may occur. Using alcohol or tobacco with certain medicines may also cause interactions to occur. Discuss with your healthcare professional the use of your medicine with food, alcohol, or tobacco.
Other Medical Problems
The presence of other medical problems may affect the use of this medicine. Make sure you tell your doctor if you have any other medical problems, especially:
- Angina (chest pain), unstable or
- Heart attack, recent or
- Heart disease (eg, cardiomyopathy) or
- Hypocalcemia (low calcium in the blood) or
- Hypokalemia (low potassium in the blood) or
- Hypomagnesemia (low magnesium in the blood) or
- Hyponatremia (low sodium level in the blood) or
- Withdrawal from alcohol or benzodiazepines—May increase risk for seizures, arrhythmia, or kidney problems.
- Congestive heart failure or
- Dehydration or
- Heart rhythm problems (eg, prolonged QT interval, uncontrolled arrhythmia), history of or
- Inflammatory bowel disease or
- Kidney disease or
- Seizures, history of or
- Trouble swallowing or
- Ulcerative colitis, active and severe—Use with caution. May make these conditions worse.
- Fluid and electrolyte imbalance—Use with caution. These conditions may increase risk for more side effects and must be corrected first before using this medicine.
- Gastric retention (problems with emptying of food or fluid from the stomach) or
- Stomach or bowel problems (eg, blockage, ileus, perforation) or
- Toxic megacolon (a very dilated intestine)—Should not be used in patients with these conditions.
Proper Use
Your doctor may have special instructions for you, depending on the type of test you are going to have. If you have not received such instructions, or if you do not understand them, check with your doctor.
Take this medicine exactly as directed by your doctor. Otherwise, the test you are going to have may not work as well and may have to be done again.
This medicine comes with a Medication Guide. You must read, understand, and follow these instructions carefully. Ask your doctor if you have any questions.
You may eat a low-residue breakfast (eg, white bread, biscuits, no wheat muffins, cornflakes, eggs, cream of wheat, grits, yogurt, cottage cheese, coffee, tea, juice without pulp, and fruits with no skin or seeds) up to 1 day before the time of the test. Do not eat anything red or purple.
You may drink clear liquid (eg, water, fruit juices without pulp, lemonade, coffee, tea without cream or non-dairy creamer, chicken broth, gelatin) up until 2 hours before the time of the test. Do not drink red or purple liquids.
Do not take any medicine by mouth within 1 hour before using PEG and electrolytes combination solution. Do not take another laxative while using this medicine.
Take chlorpromazine, digoxin, iron supplement, penicillamine, or antibiotics (eg, fluoroquinolone, tetracycline) at least 2 hours before or not less than 6 hours after taking this medicine.
Do not eat solid foods, drink dairy (eg, milk), or alcohol while you are using this medicine.
Do not drink anything at least 2 hours before the test.
To use the medicine:
- Mix the powder with water before using it. Do not swallow the powder directly. Add lukewarm water to the fill mark on the bottle. If you are using flavoring powder that comes with the medicine, add it before adding the water. Do not add any extra flavorings or starch-based thickeners to the medicine.
- Shake well until all the ingredients are dissolved. Use the solution within 24 hours.
- Drink 8 ounces of the mixed medicine about every 15 minutes until you finish all of the prepared solution or until your stool is clear and free of solid matter.
- Drink an additional 16 ounces of water during the evening.
- You should have your first loose stool or mild diarrhea about 1 hour after you drink the medicine. This is how the medicine cleans out your bowels. You may have bloating or an upset stomach before the loose stools start.
Dosing
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor's orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so.
The amount of medicine that you take depends on the strength of the medicine. Also, the number of doses you take each day, the time allowed between doses, and the length of time you take the medicine depend on the medical problem for which you are using the medicine.
- For oral dosage form (powder for solution):
- For cleansing of the colon:
- Adults—240 milliliters (mL) (8 oz) every 15 minutes in the evening and 5 to 8 hours in the morning before the test.
- Children—Use and dose must be determined by your doctor.
- For cleansing of the colon:
Storage
Keep out of the reach of children.
Do not keep outdated medicine or medicine no longer needed.
Ask your healthcare professional how you should dispose of any medicine you do not use.
Store the medicine in a closed container at room temperature, away from heat, moisture, and direct light. Keep from freezing.
Keep the mixed solution in the refrigerator. Do not freeze. Throw away any unused liquid after 24 hours.
Precautions
It is important that your doctor check you closely to make sure this medicine is working properly. Blood and urine tests may be needed to check for unwanted effects.
Contact your doctor right away if you have decreased urination, dizziness, headache, or vomiting. These could be symptoms of a loss of too much body fluid (dehydration).
Contact your doctor right away if you have any changes to your heart rhythm. You might feel dizzy or faint, or you might have a fast, pounding, or uneven heartbeat. Make sure your doctor knows if you had a heart rhythm problem, including QT prolongation.
This medicine may increase your risk for seizures. This is more likely to occur if you take medicine for depression, if you are withdrawing from alcohol or benzodiazepine use, or if you have low sodium level in the blood (hyponatremia). Talk to your doctor if you have any concerns.
This medicine may cause serious bowel problems (eg, colon ulcers, ischemic colitis). Check with your doctor right away if you have stomach pain and tenderness, bloody stools, or rectal bleeding.
Keep yourself hydrated before, during, and after using this medicine. Drink extra fluids so you will pass more urine. This may help prevent kidney problems.
This medicine may cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis and angioedema, which can be life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Tell your doctor right away if you have a rash, itching, hoarseness, trouble breathing or swallowing, or large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or genitals after using this medicine.
Do not take other medicines unless they have been discussed with your doctor. This includes prescription or nonprescription (over-the-counter [OTC]) medicines and herbal or vitamin supplements.
Side Effects
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
More common
- Full or bloated feeling
- pressure in the stomach
- stomach pain
- swelling of the stomach area
Incidence not known
- Bloating or swelling of the face, arms, hands, lower legs, or feet
- bloody or black, tarry stools
- chest pain or tightness
- constipation
- cough
- difficulty swallowing
- dizziness
- fainting
- fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat
- hives, itching, skin rash
- large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
- no heartbeat
- puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
- rapid weight gain
- shakiness in the legs, arms, hands, or feet
- swelling of the neck
- tingling of the hands or feet
- trembling or shaking of the hands or feet
- trouble breathing
- unusual tiredness or weakness
- unusual weight gain or loss
- vomiting
- vomiting of blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
More common
- Nausea
Less common
- Headache
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
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