Golytely Bowel Prep Review

Golytely. Yea...right. Go heavily. Go fast. Go, honey, go. Go go go. But not lightly. Nope. Not even close. Even Polyethylene Glycol/Electrolytes for Solution (generic name) sounds better suited to this drug than Golytely.

Golytely is a bowel prep--a strong laxative. This is a memorable drug. It is used to cleanse the bowel before tests such as a colonoscopy. After reading this, if you get the burning urge to take this drug, you'll have to get a prescription from your doctor.

Here's what's good about Golytely:

• If taken as directed, it will clean you out from your eyelashes to your toenails. If you would like pretty pictures for your colonoscopy, this is a good thing.
• It comes with a choice of flavors.

Here's what's bad about Golytely:

• You have to mix the medication in a jug about the size of the refrigerator. Well, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit on that one, but 4 liters certainly looks big.
• The drug must be mixed with water and your chosen flavor packet--I have not heard of anyone saying if any of the flavors taste good. I believe the orange and lemon-lime flavors are definite nasty flavors, but there are probably others that are just as bad. Information on a website specifically says not to add sugar, sweeteners, or other agents to Golytely.
• You might want to wash your mouth with mouthwash after drinking Golytely, and it tends to be easier to drink it as quickly as possible, especially since you'll be drinking a cup every 10 minutes.
• They say chilling the mixed drug improves the taste. I guess it COULD taste worse warm.
• You are supposed to shake the drug before each dose
• The doctor will usually order you to stop eating a few hours before beginning this medication. Since it may make you feel like throwing up, not eating is probably a good thing. Usually only clear liquids are allowed and you may not be allowed to take anything by mouth for a certain number of hours before the procedure.
• A normal prep involves drinking 8 ounce (240 mL) of Golytely every 10 minutes until all of the drug is taken (it contains 4 Liters or 4000 mL total)
• Unless there is a major bowel problem (and you would need to contact the doctor if you do not begin to have bowel movements while taking Golytely), you should begin to feel the effects of this medicine and are likely to have cramps within about an hour--they say that about 3 liters is required to produce the watery stools that you are striving for.
• Do they equip toilets with 5-point restraints? Perhaps you should put the jug on ice by the commode rather than replacing it in the refrigerator.
• You will be glad to know that you are getting exercise by moving rather quickly from point A to the bathroom numerous times throughout the course of this treatment.
• Perhaps the only thing worse than having to take this drug is not taking enough of it to get good pictures in the colonoscopy--that would not be a good thing to have to repeat. Better get your time and money's worth the first time around.

Other cautions...notify your doctor if:

• you are allergic to any of the ingredients in Golytely.
• you are taking any other medications.
• you experience allergic symptoms
• you experience severe side effects such as chest pain, a slow/irregular heart beat, etc.
• you are pregnant.

My Viewpoint:

I have never taken Golytely, but I have witnessed people who have. I have also seen other bowel preps that are not quite as hard to take. This one seems to resemble cruel and unusual punishment to me, but it can work.

If you must take Golytely, I feel for you.