Bowel cleansing preparations (Formulary)

  • Avoid bowel cleansing solutions as treatments for constipation.
  • Use with caution in older or debilitated patients; check cautions and contra-indications before prescribing.
  • Patients should stop iron preparations, antidiarrhoea preparations and, when possible, opiates 7 days before the procedure, commence a low residue diet 2 days before the procedure and take copious amounts of water or other clear fluids during treatment.

Vista-Prep®, previous first-line preparation for bowel cleaning prior to endoscopy in NHS Highland, has been discontinued.  This has increased the demand for alternatives (Klean-Prep®, Movi-Prep® and Plenvu®).  Over the forthcoming months until the supply chain stabilises, pharmacy may have to switch between different products depending on availability of each.

Endoscopy at Raigmore will be kept informed of availability and arrangements have been made to ensure that patient information materials are available for each preparation.

SODIUM PICOSULPHATE WITH MAGNESIUM CITRATE - (First line)

Important: Therapy notes

Important: Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Oral powder 10mg/sachet with magnesium citrate (s)

Dosage:

By mouth, 1 sachet in water in the morning before 8am and a second in the afternoon (2 to 4pm) on day preceding procedure.
See guidance - Oral Bowel Cleansing Agents.

MACROGOL 3350 WITH POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM BICARBONATE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE

Important: Therapy notes

Bowel cleansing before colonoscopy.

MHRA advice: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) laxatives and starch-based thickeners: potential interactive effect when mixed, leading to an increased risk of aspiration (April 2021) (www.gov.uk).

See guidance - Oral Bowel Cleansing Agents.

Important: Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Vistaprep has been discontinued. 

MACROGOL 3350 WITH ANHYDROUS SODIUM SULFATE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE, SODIUM BICARBONATE AND SODIUM CHLORIDE

Important: Therapy notes

MHRA advice: Polyethylene glycol (PEG) laxatives and starch-based thickeners: potential interactive effect when mixed, leading to an increased risk of aspiration (April 2021) (www.gov.uk).

See guidance - Oral Bowel Cleansing Agents.

Important: Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Oral powder sachets 69g (Klean-Prep®) macrogol '3350' 59 gram, potassium chloride 742·5 mg, sodium bicarbonate 1·685 gram, sodium chloride 1·465 gram, sodium sulfate anhydrous 5·685 gram

Important: Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Oral powder sachets (Plenvu®)

Important: Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Oral powder sachets (Moviprep®)

Editorial Information

Document Id: F231