PEG 3350 Electrolytes (Golytely) Risks, Warnings, and Complications

SERIOUS FLUID AND ELECTROLYTE ABNORMALITIES: Taking polyethylene glycol 3350 electrolytes can lead to a loss of too much body fluid and dehydration. Abnormalities in fluid and electrolyte levels can cause serious adverse events, including heart rhythm irregularities, seizures, and renal impairment (reduced kidney function). Tell your doctor if you have a history of heart failure or are taking other medications that can cause fluid and electrolyte disturbances. Also, tell your provider if you develop significant vomiting, postural hypotension (low blood pressure with a change in position), or other signs of dehydration after taking PEG 3350 electrolytes.  

You should hydrate sufficiently with clear liquids before, during, and after the use of this medication. Your doctor may order post-colonoscopy laboratory tests to check electrolytes, BUN, and creatinine. 

SERIOUS CARDIAC ARRHYTHMIAS: Rarely, taking osmotic laxatives for bowel preparation can lead to serious heart arrhythmias. Tell your doctor if you have uncontrolled arrhythmias, prolonged QT interval, unstable angina (chest pain), recent myocardial infarction (heart attack), congestive heart failure, or cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart). Your doctor may order pre- and post-colonoscopy electrocardiograms if you are at an increased risk of serious arrhythmias.

SEIZURES: A small number of people have developed loss of consciousness and/or generalized tonic-clonic seizures after using bowel preparation products such as polyethylene glycol 3350 electrolytes. This can happen even in people with no previous history of seizures. The seizures may be due to electrolyte abnormalities, such as low sodium, low potassium, low calcium, low magnesium, and low serum osmolality. Correcting the fluid and electrolyte abnormalities usually leads to resolution of the seizures.

Before using PEG 3350 electrolytes, tell your doctor if you have a history of seizures or are at an increased seizure risk, for example, if you are taking medications like tricyclic antidepressants that can lower the seizure threshold if you are withdrawing from benzodiazepines or alcohol, or if you have low sodium levels. 

IMPAIRED RENAL FUNCTION: GoLYTELY (PEG 3350 electrolytes) should be used with caution in people with kidney problems or patients taking medications that can affect renal function, for example, diuretics or water pills, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs).

Make sure you hydrate adequately while taking polyethylene glycol 3350 electrolytes. Your doctor may order pre- and post-colonoscopy laboratory tests after prescribing GoLYTELY to check your electrolytes and kidney function.

COLONIC MUCOSAL ULCERATIONS AND ISCHEMIC COLITIS: Osmotic laxatives can cause colonic mucosal aphthous ulcerations (sores in the lining of the large intestine or colon). There are also reports of serious ischemic colitis requiring hospitalization. Do not use stimulant laxatives and PEG 3350 electrolytes together as this can increase the risk of bowel problems. Tell the provider prescribing GoLYTELY if your doctors have told you they suspect inflammatory bowel disease. This will need to be kept in mind when interpreting your colonoscopy results.

Before taking GoLYTELY, tell your doctor if you have a history of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), severe active ulcerative colitis, upper GI bleeding, gastric retention, gastrointestinal obstruction, bowel perforation, toxic megacolon, or other stomach or bowel problems.

ASPIRATION: Tell your doctor if you have an impaired gag reflex. PEG 3350 electrolytes should also be used with caution in semi-conscious and unconscious patients as they can regurgitate and aspirate the medicine (swallow the medicine into their lungs). If PEG 3350 electrolytes are administered through a nasogastric tube and you are prone to aspiration, your healthcare provider will observe you carefully. Do not add fluids thickened with starch-based thickeners to this medicine - this can lead to thinning of the fluids and increase your risk of choking and aspiration.

SERIOUS HYPERSENSITIVITY REACTIONS: Rarely, PEG 3350 electrolytes can cause serious allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis (throat closing), angioedema (swelling), rash, hives, and itching. Stop taking the medication and seek emergency medical care if you develop signs and symptoms of a serious hypersensitivity.