Colon Cleansing Medicine

Colon cleansing medicine is commonly prescribed when there is a need for colon cleansing to be done in a relatively short period of time.

When should colon cleansing medicine be taken?

1. When there is severe constipation

When a person suffers from constipation, it really means that he is not able to have a bowel movement for at least three times a week. Constipation stools are usually hard and dry. It can also be hard or small in size.

People who are constipated often need to strain hard in order to pass out the stool. However, there are times when straining is not much of a help and immense pain is felt when the person is also suffering from hemorrhoids at the same time.

Although it is quite normal for some people to have only one bowel movement every three days, it is best to have at least one bowel movement a day to prevent autointoxication.

Constipation is a symptom and not a disease. The main cause is usually a poor diet comprising little fiber.

2. Preparation for a colonoscopy

Colon cleansing medicine is also used to clean out the large intestines and sigmoid colon prior to a colonoscopy procedure.

It is important for the colon to be cleansed of all fecal matter so that the colonoscopy procedure will be successful.

A colonoscopy is a visual examination of the lining of the colon with the aid of a colonoscope.

A colonoscope is a flexible tube that has a light and a tiny video camera at one end for capturing the details of the colon when it is inserted via the anus.

Colon Cleansing Medicine

1. Nulytely®/ Golytely®/ Colyte®/ Trilyte® (PEG)

These medications are used to colon cleanse the colon prior to a colonoscopy. Electrolyte with polyethylene glycol (PEG) is a laxative that works by drawing large amounts of water into the colon so as to cause watery bowel movements.

This allows the intestines to be cleared of all fecal matter so that your doctor can clearly view the lining of the colon for any abnormal growth or changes during the colonoscopy.

These drugs are also used for those with chronic constipation which does not respond to other types of medications.

2. OsmoPrep® tablets

The latest colon cleansing medicine seems to be OsmoPrep® (sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate, USP, and sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous, USP) tablets.

This product is approved by the FDA in March 2006 for cleansing the colon in preparation for colonoscopy in adults.

OsmoPrep® is unique in that it is in a tablet form unlike many of the other types of colon cleansing medicine which are liquid preparations.

The major advantage of this product is that you do not have all the side effects of nausea and bloating that is associated with liquid preparations such as Trilyte®.

Important considerations when taking Colon Cleansing Medicine

Though colon cleansing medicines can be really effective in cleansing the colon, it must be remembered that these are after all drugs. Before embarking on such medication, it is advisable that you should check with your doctor if such preparations are suitable.

Many of the medicines are quite harsh and may not be suitable to those people who have some form of underlying health conditions that makes taking such medicines dangerous.

Over reliance on such medications for colon cleansing can effectively affect the natural urge to defecate.

It is therefore inadvisable to take these colon cleansing medicines too frequently.

In fact, you can follow a colon cleansing natural diet without resorting to drugs and it works just as good!