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Bowel Evacuants, Oral bow-ul ee-VAK-yoo-antz

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: bowel evacuant; bowel prep kit

Generic and brand names: Colyte; GoLYTELY; HalfLytely and Bisacodyl Bowel Prep Kit; NuLYTELY; TriLyte; MoviPrep

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
  • bowel problems such as intestinal blockage, severe constipation, bowel perforation, acute colitis, megacolon, Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, or an overactive bowel
  • dehydration
  • G6PD deficiency
  • heart disease or irregular heartbeat
  • imbalances such as too much or too little calcium, magnesium, potassium, or sodium in your blood
  • kidney disease
  • phenylketonuria (PKU). MoviPrep contains phenylalanine.
  • seizures
  • trouble swallowing

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. 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?

Check the label on the medicine for directions about your specific dose. Read the Medication Guide that comes in the medicine package when you start taking this medicine and each time you get a refill.

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. You need to drink plenty of clear liquid while taking this medicine. 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.

Colyte, GoLYTELY, HalfLytely, NuLYTELY, and TriLyte medicines are powdered products and must be mixed with water before you take them. Do not take them dry. Your pharmacist may mix these medicines for you. Some may come with a flavoring packet that you can add to the medicine before you add water. Shake the solution well before each dose. Do not eat any solid food for 2 to 4 hours before starting this medicine, as directed by your healthcare provider. Chilling the mixed solution may improve the taste.

If you have HalfLytely with the Bisacodyl tablet, swallow the tablet whole. Do not chew, break, or crush it.

If you have MoviPrep, you may have clear soup or plain yogurt up to 1 hour before starting this medicine. Mix Pouch A and Pouch B into the container provided. Add warm water to the top line of the container and mix well. You may chill the solution to improve the taste.

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

What if I overdose?

If you or anyone else has intentionally taken too much of this medicine, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. If you pass out, have seizures, weakness or confusion, or have trouble breathing, call 911. If you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much of this medicine, call the poison control center. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. The poison control center number is 800-222-1222.

Symptoms of an acute overdose may include: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain.

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.

If you need emergency care, surgery, or dental work, tell the healthcare provider or dentist you are taking this medicine.

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, fainting, irregular heartbeat, seizures, continued abdominal bloating and pain.

Other: dizziness, headache, itching, rectal discomfort, 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:

  • ACE inhibitors such as benazepril (Lotensin), captopril (Capoten), enalapril (Vasotec), fosinopril, lisinopril (Prinivil/Zestril), quinapril (Accupril), ramipril (Altace)
  • angiotensin receptor blockers such as candesartan (Atacand), eprosartan (Teveten), irbesartan (Avapro), losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar), telmisartan (Micardis), and valsartan (Diovan)
  • antacids (do not take within 1 hour of taking bisacodyl tablets)
  • diuretics (water pills) such as amiloride, bumetanide, chlorothiazide (Diuril), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), spironolactone (Aldactone), torsemide (Demadex), and triamterene (Dyrenium)
  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) such as diclofenac (Voltaren, Cataflam), ibuprofen (Motrin, Motrin IB, Advil), indomethacin (Indocin), ketoprofen, ketorolac (Toradol), nabumetone (Relafen), naproxen (Naprosyn, Anaprox, Aleve, Naprelan), oxaprozin (Daypro), piroxicam (Feldene), and sulindac (Clinoril)

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.

If you are not sure if your medicines might interact, ask your pharmacist or healthcare provider. Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. 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.

After mixing the solution, you may keep it in the refrigerator.

If you have Colyte, NuLYTELY, HalfLytely, TriLyte, or GoLYTELY, use the solution within 48 hours after you mix it. Discard unused medicine.

If you have MoviPrep, use the solution within 24 hours after you mix it. Discard unused medicine.


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.


Developed by RelayHealth.
Medication Advisor 2012.1 published by RelayHealth.
Last modified: 2011-11-01
Last reviewed: 2011-10-31
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
© 2012 RelayHealth and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
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