What is Plenvu?
Plenvu is a laxative solution that stimulates bowel movements. This medication also contains minerals to replace electrolytes that are passed from the body in the stool. Plenvu is used to clean the bowel before colonoscopy, a barium x-ray, or other intestinal procedures. Plenvu may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
Important Information
Do not use Plenvu if you have a perforated bowel, a bowel obstruction or severe constipation, or colitis or toxic megacolon. Plenvu can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects in people with these conditions.
Before taking this medicine
You should not use this medicine if you are allergic to polyethylene glycol or any other electrolyte solutions (such as Pedialyte or Gatorade), or if you have:
- a perforated bowel;
- a bowel obstruction or severe constipation; or
- colitis or toxic megacolon.
Plenvu can cause dangerous or life-threatening side effects in people with these conditions.
People with eating disorders (such as anorexia or bulimia) should not use this medicine without the advice of a doctor.
Tell your doctor if you have ever had:
- heart problems, or a heart attack;
- an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium or sodium in your blood);
- kidney disease;
- a seizure;
- gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), ulcerative colitis, or other stomach or bowel disorder;
- trouble swallowing, aspiration (accidentally inhaling food or drink);
- a genetic enzyme deficiency called glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency; or
- a drug or alcohol addiction.
Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. This medicine may contain phenylalanine. Talk to your doctor before using if you have phenylketonuria (PKU).
How should I take Plenvu?
Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed. Polyethylene glycol electrolyte powder must be mixed with water into a solution before using it. Do not add any flavorings such as sugar, honey, artificial sweetener, fruit juices, or other beverages.
Shake the mixture well just before you measure a dose. Drink Plenvu in the exact portions at the exact time intervals prescribed by your doctor. This medicine comes with instructions about when and what to eat or drink on your first day of treatment. Each brand may have different instructions.
Do not drink Plenvu if it has been less than 1 hour since you last ate solid food. For best results, take the medicine 2 to 4 hours after you last ate.
The first watery stool should appear within 1 hour after you start drinking Plenvu. Keep taking the medicine until you have completed all doses prescribed by your doctor.
Drink plenty of clear liquids (water, broth, black coffee, tea, clear soda) before, during, and after you take this medicine. Avoid foods and beverages that contain pulp or are red or purple in color. You may also eat popsicles (not fruit bars or fudge bars) or gelatin without fruit pieces or toppings. Do not eat or drink anything within 2 hours before your colonoscopy or other medical test.
Store the unmixed powder at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Store the mixed solution in a refrigerator in an upright position. Throw away any Plenvu you have not used within 24 to 48 hours after it was mixed (follow directions for your specific brand of this medicine).
How long until the preparation starts working?
Individual response to the preparation medications varies from person to person. Some people will begin to have multiple urgent bowel movements within 30 minutes of drinking the solution and others may not have a bowel movement for 3-4 hours.
How Long Does Plenvu Make You Poop?
It is important to note that there’s not a definitive answer to this. Every body is different, and everyone will experience Plenvu’s bowel stimulating effects differently. Nevertheless, bowel movements can take up to 5-6 hours after beginning the prep to start. Be patient, continue to drink liquids. If you have not had a bowel movement by midnight the night prior to your procedure, you will need to reach the on call physician for further instructions.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking Plenvu?
Avoid taking other medications, vitamins, or mineral supplements within 1 hour before drinking Plenvu. A bowel cleansing can make it harder for your body to absorb other medicines you take by mouth. Do not use other laxatives while using Plenvu unless your doctor has told you to.
Side Effects
The following serious or otherwise important adverse reactions for bowel preparations are described elsewhere in the labeling:
- Serious Fluid and Electrolyte Abnormalities
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
- Seizures
- Patients with Renal Impairment
- Colonic Mucosal Ulceration, Ischemic Colitis and Ulcerative Colitis
Clinical Trials Experience
Because clinical trials are conducted under widely varying conditions, adverse reaction rates observed in the clinical trials of a drug cannot be directly compared to rates in the clinical trials of another drug and may not reflect the rates observed in practice.
The safety of PLENVU as a Two-Day Split-Dosing and One-Day Morning Dosing Regimen was evaluated in two randomized, parallel group, multicenter, investigator-blinded clinical trials (Two-Day Split-Dosing in the NOCT and MORA trials and One-Day Morning Dosing in the MORA trial) in 1351 adult patients undergoing colonoscopy. The mean age of the study population was 56 years (range 18 to 86 years), 92% of patients were Caucasian and 51% were female. In the NOCT trial, 61% of patients had mild renal impairment. In the MORA trial, 67% had mild renal impairment and 5% had moderate renal impairment. Patients with severe renal impairment were not enrolled in the clinical trials of PLENVU [see Clinical Studies]. SEE: Xanax Constipation – Causes, Treatment and Remedies
