Bowel cleansing preparations (Formulary)

TAM (Treatments and Medicines) NHS Highland
NHS Highland

Guidance:

Notes: 

  • 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.

SODIUM PICOSULPHATE WITH MAGNESIUM CITRATE - (First line)

Therapy notes

Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

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

Dosage:

  • 1 sachet in water in the morning before 8am and a second in the afternoon (2 to 4pm) on day before procedure.

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

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).

Product discontinuation (Vista-Prep® and Klean-Prep®):

  • This has increased the demand for alternatives (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.

Formulation and dosage details

Formulation:

Oral powder sachets (Plenvu®, Moviprep®)

Editorial Information

Document Id: F231