What are alternative bowel preparation solutions to GoLytely (Polyethylene Glycol)?

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Last updated: February 11, 2025 • View editorial policy

From the Guidelines

Alternative bowel preparation solutions to GoLytely (Polyethylene Glycol) include MoviPrep, Colyte, Gavilyte, and Nulytely, as well as low-volume agents such as oral sulfate solution (SUPREP), sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate (Prepopik), and a combination of PEG-ELS and OSS (SUCLEAR).

Available Options

  • MoviPrep: a 2-L PEG-ELS product that contains supplemental ascorbate and sodium sulfate 1
  • Colyte: a 4-L PEG-ELS–based preparation 1
  • Gavilyte: a 4-L PEG-ELS–based preparation 1
  • Nulytely: a sulfate-free 4-L PEG-ELS–based preparation 1
  • Oral sulfate solution (SUPREP): a low-volume agent 2
  • Sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate (Prepopik): a low-volume agent 2
  • A combination of PEG-ELS and OSS (SUCLEAR): a low-volume agent 2 ### Considerations When selecting a bowel-cleansing regimen, it is essential to consider the patient’s medical history, medications, and prior colonoscopy results 2. A split-dose regimen of 4 L PEG-ELS provides high-quality bowel cleansing 2, 3. However, in healthy nonconstipated individuals, a 4-L PEG-ELS formulation may not be superior to a lower-volume PEG formulation 2.

From the Research

Alternative Bowel Preparation Solutions

Alternative bowel preparation solutions to GoLytely (Polyethylene Glycol) include:

  • Isosmotic solutions: + Low-volume PEG-ELS with ascorbic acid (e.g., MoviPrep, PLENVU) 4 + Sulfate-free high-volume PEG-ELS formulations (SF-PEG-ELS) 4
  • Hyperosmotic solutions: + Oral sulfate solution (OSS) (e.g., SUPREP) 4 + Sodium phosphate tablets (NaP) (e.g., OsmoPrep) 4 + Oral sulfate tablets (OST) (e.g., SUTAB) 4 + Flavored PEG with sulfate salts (FPSS) (e.g., SUFLAVE) 4 + Magnesium citrate 4
  • Hypoosmotic solutions: + PEG-sports drink (PEG-SD) 4
  • Combination solutions: + Sodium picosulfate with magnesium citrate (SPMC) with laxatives (e.g., CLENPIQ) 4 + OSS with SF-PEG-ELS (Suclear) 4

Comparison of Bowel Preparation Methods

Studies have compared the efficacy and safety of different bowel preparation methods, including:

  • Split-dose PEG versus full-dose PEG 5
  • GoLYTELY versus traditional mechanical bowel preparation 6, 7
  • GoLYTELY in infants and children 8

Key Findings

Key findings from these studies include:

  • Split-dose PEG significantly improved the number of satisfactory bowel preparations and increased patient compliance compared to full-dose PEG 5
  • GoLYTELY resulted in better scores of overall quality and bowel appearance, and significantly fewer total aerobic and anaerobic organisms in sigmoid aspirates compared to traditional mechanical bowel preparation 7
  • GoLYTELY is safe and effective in preparing the bowel prior to surgery in children, and can eliminate the need for multiple-day hospitalizations for bowel preparation 8

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.