Bowel Evacuants, Oral

Type of medicine: bowel evacuant; bowel prep kit

Generic and brand names: Colyte; Evac-U-Kwik; Fleet Prep Kit #1; Fleet Prep Kit #2; Fleet Prep Kit #3; Go-Evac; GoLYTELY; HalfLytely; Heptalac; NuLYTELY; OCL; Tridrate Bowel Cleansing; X-Prep Liquid

This medicine is taken by mouth to empty the colon for colon, rectal, and bowel examinations.

Tell your health care provider if you have ever had:

• an allergic reaction to any medicine
• congestive heart failure or angina (chest pain)
• dehydration
• imbalances such as hyperphosphatemia (too much phosphate), hypokalemia (too little potassium), and hypocalcemia (too little calcium)
• bowel problems such as intestinal blockage, severe constipation, bowel perforation, acute colitis, megacolon, inflammatory bowel disease, or an overactive bowel
• kidney disease
• trouble swallowing.

Females of childbearing age: Tell your health care provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. Take only those laxatives that are recommended by your health care provider. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your health care provider's approval.

Take this medicine as directed by your health care provider, or follow the directions on the package label. Do not take more or take it more often than directed. Drink several glasses of water during the day to help soften your bowel movement.

Do not take other laxative products such as enemas (Fleet Enema) or liquid laxatives such as Fleet Phospho-soda.

Mix powdered or granulated products with water or fruit juice. Do not take them dry. Liquids may be taken in or with water or fruit juice.

Swallow the tablets whole. Do not chew, break, or crush them.

This medicine will cause you to have several watery bowel movements until only clear movements occur. Stay close to the bathroom after you take this medicine.

If you have severe bloating or stomach pain while drinking the solution, slow down or stop drinking the solution until these symptoms go away. If the symptoms continue, or if you have severe nausea or vomiting, contact your health care provider.

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your health care provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your health care provider right away. If you cannot reach your health care provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat).

Serious (report these to your health care provider right away): Severe nausea and vomiting, continued abdominal bloating and pain.

Other: dizziness, headache, itching, runny nose.

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your health care provider if you are taking:

• antacids
• medicines to decrease stomach acid or treat ulcers such as omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix), cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), and nizatidine (Axid)
• milk

Any other medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) taken close to the time that you take this medicine may not be properly absorbed. Ask your health care provider how and when to take any other medicines you may need.

Keep a list of all your medicines (prescription, nonprescription, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins) with you. Be sure that you tell all health care providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

Store this medicine at room temperature. Keep the container tightly closed. Protect it from heat, high humidity, and bright light.

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your health care provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.