Patient Medication Information: uses, side effects, how to take - Peglyte Powder
ABOUT THIS MEDICATION
What the medication is used for:
- Bowel cleansing prior to examination (e.g., colonoscopy) or surgical procedures requiring a clean colon.
- The treatment of constipation following consultation with your healthcare professional.
What it does:
The polyethylene glycol binds to the water and helps laxation. The electrolytes help maintain the salt balance in this process.
When it should not be used:
Do not take if you have any of the following conditions (ask your healthcare professional if you are unsure):
- ileus (blockage in the bowel)
- gastric retention
- bowel perforation
- gastrointestinal obstruction
- toxic colitis (inflamed large bowel with damage to the intestinal wall)
- toxic megacolon (acute swelling of the large bowel)
- or if you are hypersensitive (allergic) to any ingredient in this formulation (See What the important non-medicinal ingredients are).
What the medicinal ingredients are:
| 70 g sachet | 280 g bottle | |
|---|---|---|
| Polyethylene Glycol 3350 | 59.55 g | 238.18 g |
| Sodium Sulphate | 5.74 g | 22.96 g |
| Sodium Bicarbonate | 1.69 g | 6.76 g |
| Sodium Chloride | 1.46 g | 5.85 g |
| Potassium Chloride | 0.76 g | 3.05 g |
What the important non-medicinal ingredients are:
Sodium Saccharin, Fruit flavours.
What dosage forms it comes in:
Powder for oral solution (fruit flavoured):
- Box of 4 sachets of 70 g powder
- Bottle of 280 g powder
WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS
BEFORE you use PegLyte® Powder, talk to your healthcare professional or pharmacist if:
You have taken any other medication within 2 hours of when you plan to start taking PegLyte® Powder (you may be
- taking the PegLyte® Powder).
- You have a history of electrolyte imbalance (e.g., hyponatremia) or are using diuretics.
- You have ulcerative colitis or any other inflammatory bowel disease (e.g., Crohn’s disease).
You are pregnant or nursing.
- You have difficulty swallowing or have a pronounced gag reflex or are prone to vomiting.
- You have any allergies to this drug or its ingredients.
Talk to your healthcare professional if you have kidney or heart problemsor any tendency to regurgitate (bring up) food from your stomach into your esophagus or any tendency to accidentally inhale food or regurgitate food into the trachea (breathing tube to the lungs).
Contact your healthcare professional if the following occurs while taking PegLyte® Powder:
- You develop severe bloating, abdominal pain or distension.
- Do not take this medication if you have abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.
Other warnings you should know about:
In rare cases, serious heart arrhythmias (an irregular or fast heartbeat) have been associated with the use of medicines such as PegLyte ® Powder. Tell your healthcare professional if you have problems with your heart such as:
- a history of an abnormal electrical signal called “prolongation of the QT interval’’
- an arrhythmia that is not under control
- a recent heart attack
- heart failure
- cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood to the rest of your body)
Your healthcare professional will decide whether you can take PegLyte® Powder.
INTERACTIONS WITH THIS MEDICATION
Oral medications taken within 2 hours of the start of administration of PegLyte® Powder may be flushed from the gastrointestinal tract and not absorbed.
Drug interaction studies have not been done for PegLyte® Powder.
PegLyte® Powder may interact with stimulant laxatives (e.g. bisacodyl). Stop taking PegLyte ® Powder and seek medical help if you experience severe abdominal pain and / or rectal bleeding.
PROPER USE OF THIS MEDICATION
Preparation of the solution:
PegLyte® Powder 280 g bottle: Add lukewarm water until half full, replace the cap tightly and mix well. Fill the bottle the rest of the way to the fill line (total volume 4 L). Replace cap tightly and
mix well until all ingredients have completely dissolved. Do not use cold water.
PegLyte® Powder 70 g sachet: Dissolve the entire contents of one sachet in 1 L (32 ounces) of lukewarm water and stir rapidly to dissolve. Repeat for the other 3 sachets, one at a time, as needed. Do not use cold water.
Drink plenty of water (or liquids) before, during and after using PegLyte® Powder.
Do not add any other ingredients (e.g., flavouring, juice) to the solution. Keep refrigerated during treatment, for optimal storage and to improve the taste. Using a straw can help to make the solution taste better and easier to drink.
Usual adult dose:
Colon cleansing before examination
On the day before your procedure or examination, have breakfast no later than 11:00 AM or as specified by your healthcare professional. After breakfast, no solid foods or milk, except clear liquids, should be taken. You can resume eating solid foods and milk only after your procedure or examination.
Dosing regimens your healthcare practitioner might prescribe:
| SPLIT-DOSING REGIMEN* |
|---|
Day before procedure:**
- 1.
In the afternoon, rapidly drink a glassful (250 mL) of PegLyte® Powder every 10-15 minutes until 2 L are consumed.
Day of the procedure (at least 4 hours before the procedure):**
- 2. Rapidly drink a glassful (250 mL) of PegLyte® Powder every 10-15 minutes until 2 L are consumed.
| FULL-DOSING REGIMEN* |
|---|
Day before procedure**
- 1. In the evening**, rapidly drink a glassful (250 mL) of PegLyte® Powder every 10-15 minutes until 4 L are consumed.
*Follow instructions as prescribed by your healthcare professional. Your healthcare professional may choose to prescribe a full-dosing or split-dosing regimen. **Time to be confirmed by your healthcare professional.
The first bowel movement should occur approximately 1 hour after the start of PegLyte® Powder administration. Administration of PegLyte® Powder should be continued until the watery stool is clear and free of solid matter. Make sure to take the entire bowel preparation solution as instructed by your healthcare professional. This will help ensure that the colon will be optimally cleaned and minimize the need to reschedule your procedure.
Constipation
Drink 240 to 480 mL/day for a week or less or as recommended by your healthcare professional. Do not take any type of laxatives for more than one week, unless your healthcare professional has ordered a special schedule for you. Treatment for 2 to 4 days may be required to produce a bowel movement. If no bowel movement occurs in 4 days, contact your healthcare professional.
Overdose:
If you think you, or a person you are caring for, have taken too much PegLyte® Powder, contact a healthcare professional, hospital emergency department, or regional poison control centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms. |
|---|
SIDE EFFECTS AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT THEM
Like all medications, PegLyte® Powder can cause some side effects. You may not experience any of them. For most patients, these side effects are likely to be minor and temporary.
| Serious side effects and what to do about them | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Symptom / effect | Talk to your healthcare professional | ||
| Only if severe | In all cases | Stop taking drug and get immediate medical help | |
| Ischemic colitis (lack of blood flow to intestines): severe abdominal pain, rectal bleeding | √ | ||
| Nausea, vomiting | √ | ||
| Abdominal fullness, abdominal cramps, bloating, gas | √ | ||
| Diarrhea | √ | ||
| Anal irritation | √ | ||
| Seizures | √ | ||
| RARE | |||
Allergic reactions: urticaria (hives), rhinorrhea (nasal discharge) and dermatitis (skin inflammation) | √ | ||
This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking PegLyte® Powder, contact your healthcare professional or pharmacist.
HOW TO STORE IT
Store the powder at room temperature (15 oC - 30oC). Keep out of reach and sight of children.
Once reconstituted, the solution should be used within 48 hours after mixing if stored at room temperature. If kept refrigerated (2 oC - 8°C), use within 30 days. Discard unused portion.
REPORTING SUSPECTED SIDE EFFECTS
Reporting Side Effects You can report any suspected side effects associated with the use of health products to Health Canada by:
NOTE: Contact your health professional if you need information about how to manage your side effects. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice. |
MORE INFORMATION
This document plus the full prescribing information, prepared for health professionals, can be obtained by contacting PENDOPHARM, division of Pharmascience Inc. at 1-888-550-6060.
PENDOPHARM, Division of Pharmascience Inc.
Montréal, Québec
H4P 2T4
Last revised: January 3, 2025
®Registered trademark of Pharmascience Inc.