Potassium bicarbonate

What it is used for

PEG-3350 and Electrolytes for Oral Solution is indicated for bowel cleansing prior to colonoscopy and barium enema X-ray examination in adults.

Side effects, and when to stop

The following clinically significant adverse reactions are described elsewhere in the labeling:

• Renal impairment
• Colonic mucosal ulcerations and ischemic colitis
• Patients with significant gastrointestinal disease
• Aspiration

The following adverse reactions associated with the use of PEG-3350 and Electrolytes for Oral Solution were identified in clinical trials or postmarketing reports. Because these reactions are reported voluntarily from a population of uncertain size, it is not always possible to estimate their frequency, reliably, or establish a causal relationship to drug exposure.

• Cardiovascular: arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, peripheral edema, asystole, and acute pulmonary edema after aspiration.
• Nervous system: tremor, seizure
• Hypersensitivity: Urticaria/rash, pruritus, dermatitis, rhinorrhea, dyspnea, chest and throat tightness, fever, angioedema, anaphylaxis and anaphylactic shock
• Gastrointestinal: Nausea, abdominal fullness and bloating are the most common adverse reactions (occurred in up to 50% of patients). Other less common adverse reactions include: abdominal cramps, vomiting, “butterfly-like” infiltrates on chest X-ray after vomiting and aspirating PEG, anal irritation, and upper GI bleeding from Mallory-Weiss Tear, esophageal perforation [usually with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)].

Who should not take it

PEG-3350 and Electrolytes for Oral Solution is contraindicated in the following conditions:

• Gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction
• Bowel perforation
• Toxic colitis or toxic megacolon
• Gastric retention
• Ileus
• Hypersensitivity to any component of PEG-3350 and Electrolytes for Oral Solution