Bowel Evacuants, Oral

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: bowel evacuant; bowel prep kit

Generic and brand names: Colyte; Evac-U-Kwik; Fleet Prep Kit #1; Fleet Prep Kit #2; Fleet Prep Kit #3; GoLYTELY; HalfLytely; NuLYTELY; OCL; Tridrate Bowel Cleansing

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is taken by mouth to empty the colon for colon, rectal, and bowel examinations. It may be used for other conditions as determined by your healthcare provider.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• heart failure or angina (chest pain)
• dehydration
• electrolyte imbalances such as too much or too little calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium in your blood
• bowel problems such as intestinal blockage, severe constipation, bowel perforation, acute colitis, megacolon, inflammatory bowel disease, or an overactive bowel
• kidney disease
• trouble swallowing.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Take only those laxatives that are recommended by your healthcare provider. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider's approval.

How do I use it?

Take this medicine as directed by your healthcare provider, or follow the directions on the package label. Do not take more or take it more often than directed. Ask your provider how much liquid to drink the day that you take this medicine.

Do not take other laxative products such as enemas (Fleet Enema) or liquid laxatives such as Fleet Phospho-soda.

Mix powdered or granulated products with water or fruit juice. Do not take them dry. Liquids may be taken in or with water or fruit juice.

Swallow the tablets whole. Do not chew, break, or crush them.

This medicine will cause you to have several watery bowel movements until only clear movements occur. Stay close to the bathroom after you take this medicine.

What should I watch out for?

If you have severe bloating or stomach pain while drinking the solution, slow down or stop drinking the solution until these symptoms go away. If the symptoms continue, or if you have severe nausea or vomiting, contact your healthcare provider.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Severe nausea and vomiting, seizures, continued abdominal bloating and pain.

Other: dizziness, headache, itching, runny nose.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

• antacids
• diuretics (water pills) such as hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide, Oretic), furosemide (Lasix), chlorothiazide (Diuril), bumetanide (Bumex), torsemide (Demadex), spironolactone (Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium), and amiloride (Midamor)
• medicines to decrease stomach acid or treat ulcers such as omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix), cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), and nizatidine (Axid)
• milk.

Any other medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) that you take within 1 hour of taking this medicine may not be properly absorbed. Ask your healthcare provider how and when to take any other medicines you may need.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

How should I store this medicine?

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.