Polyethylene Glycol 3350 With Electrolytes

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes is an iso-osmotic bowel-cleansing preparation combining PEG 3350 with sodium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, sodium sulfate, and potassium chloride, formulated to be reconstituted to a large fixed volume (commonly 2-4 L) and consumed over several hours before colonoscopy, surgery, or radiologic imaging. It is clinically distinct from over-the-counter Polyethylene Glycol 3350 (Miralax), which is plain PEG 3350 without electrolytes, dosed in tablespoons for chronic constipation rather than litres for procedural prep.

Bowel preparation agent, Osmotic laxative

Polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes

GoLYTELY, NuLYTELY, TriLyte, MoviPrep, Plenvu, Gavilyte

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Summary

Classes

Bowel preparation agent, Osmotic laxative

Common uses

Colonoscopy bowel preparation▲0▼, Pre-procedural / preoperative bowel cleansing▲0▼

Pharmacy

Starting dose

4 L oral solution (GoLYTELY-class) split-dose: 2 L evening before, 2 L morning of procedure; low-volume products (MoviPrep, Plenvu) use 1-2 L with required clear-fluid intake

Preparations

Powder for oral solution in 4 L jugs (PEG 3350 ~236 g + NaCl, NaHCO3, KCl, Na2SO4) and low-volume packets

US FDA Max

4 L per procedure (standard-volume products)

Pharmacology

Routes

Oral

Onset

First bowel movement within 1-2 hours

Duration

4-6 hours

Half-life

Not absorbed

Bioavailability

Negligible (not absorbed)

Pregnancy

Not absorbed; generally considered acceptable when bowel prep is required^{[citation needed]}

Legal status

Rx-only in US (most products; some low-volume packs OTC)

Purported mechanism

PEG 3350 holds water in the bowel lumen by osmosis; the added electrolytes are calibrated to match plasma to prevent net fluid or electrolyte shifts during the large-volume oral intake, distinguishing electrolyte-PEG bowel preps from electrolyte-free Miralax-type laxatives.▲0▼ The clinical efficacy endpoint is adequate visualization at colonoscopy, scored by the Boston Bowel Preparation Scale.