Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate and Upset Stomach: What Users Say

• Ric...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 1, 2021

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "It did the job and wasn't too unpleasant. I mean, this is not a recreational drug, right? But compared to other bowel preps, it was a much smaller volume. Each bottle is 160 ml (about 5.5 oz.), and you take the second one several hours after the first. The flavor is not great, but not terrible either, so it's not hard to drink that volume. You do have to drink 8 oz. of other liquids every hour, but those are your choice, and I didn't find that hard at all. I didn't have any painful stomach cramping or nausea. Right at 1 hour after the first dose, I had to go, then every 5 minutes for the first few times, but it tapers off after half an hour or so. I highly suggest applying cream back there after each 'event' to minimize the irritation. My insurance wouldn't cover, but if you ask for a discount, most places will charge you only $40 to $50."

• Dia...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2013

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "Used for colonoscopy prep since it was the smallest amount to drink over the longest time. Tasted like Sprite. Drank 7 8 oz. glasses of water over the next hour. 90 minutes and had 3 explosions. Then 2 more glasses of water until the 2nd dose 5 hrs later. 2 glasses of water, 30 minutes later, awful stomach cramps, dizziness, numb fingers and toes, dry mouth. Thought I was going to pass out from the pain. Worse than labor pains! Took 30 minutes to pass. Went to bed exhausted. Definitely cleaned me out!"

• Jul...
• September 7, 2018

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "I was deeply afraid of the prep. The Clenpiq prep was the size of a child’s water bottle. It didn’t taste great, but it was so tolerable! I did split prep and had no issues! No cramps, stomach aches, or nausea. The second dose in the AM really kicked in, but I was totally clean for the prep. I would recommend this to anyone - this prep is easy!"

• Epn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 9, 2019

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "By far the best prep I’ve ever used. I will no longer dread the colonoscopy prep process. Taste isn’t great, but much better than the others in my opinion, plus it’s such a small amount that you can suck it down pretty quickly. No stomach cramping at all, and it cleaned me out completely. Doctor gave me a free sample, so I can’t comment on cost."

• All...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2014

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "Much more expensive than the Miralax prep. I paid ~$80 out of pocket. I did like the fact that you only drink 10 ounces (split in 2 doses). Then you follow up with clear liquids of your choice. The orange flavor was tolerable. I was instructed to take the 2nd dose at 8 pm. I woke up at 3 pm with almost unbearable stomach cramps. I've had a baby and kidney stones, and the pain rated right up there! This was my 4th colon prep, and I have never had this experience before. I got a thorough cleansing, but I don't know if that sort of pain is worth having this prep."

• red...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 16, 2019

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "This prep is certainly easier because it is just two small bottles to drink. Unfortunately, by the time I was ready to drink the second bottle, I was nauseated. You must drink lots of water with it. Two days later, and I still feel the awful side effects: headache, sore stomach, and some nausea. I think I preferred the older preps. You started them earlier, and there were fewer side effects, if any."

• Cob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 9, 2015

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "It worked, but it caused me to pass out. I took this as instructed - 1 dose at 4 pm and another at 8 pm. My doctor's instructions were to drink 2 16 oz glasses of water/beverage or more after the 4 pm dose, and that liquids could continue to be consumed after the second dose until midnight. I drank some herbal tea. Things went fine after the first dose, and it seemed gentle enough. I went to the restroom several times and things seemed to be moving along. I took the second dose and by 10 pm thought I was done. I woke up at 12:30 am with stomach cramps and a pounding headache. I had watery diarrhea and became very dizzy. I stood up and passed out, hitting my head."

• Ksq...
• April 15, 2016

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "I am doing the Prepopik for the first time. I've done the Golytely and the Miralax/Gatorade preps in the past. The Prepopik is tolerable. It's only 5 oz 2x, so it's not too difficult. I started feeling it work within the first half hour of taking the first dose. My stool was clear a couple of hours later. I took my 2nd dose 6 hours later as directed. It felt like I was pooping fire. It was HORRIBLE, take your breath away burning. I did remain clear yellow, though. The biggest struggle for me was drinking the at least 24 oz after the second dose. I couldn't take in any more liquid. My stomach was a mess. I had mild cramping, tons of gurgling, and a very uncomfortable digestion feeling. This prep wasn't worse than any of the others."

• K9M...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2017

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "I was given this as prep for a colonoscopy. I had read negative reviews, but tried it. If you hold your breath and drink down the 5 oz., it's not bad. It gets warm as you mix it and would have been better cold. It started working about 50 min. after I took it. I noticed that warm/hot beverages (black coffee or tea) made it work faster. I had no stomach cramps, etc. with this. After the 10 pm dose, I thought my last trip to the bathroom was around midnight, but it was at 1 am. My doctor said I did a great job with the prep, so I'm sure it worked. I suggest you have a 'light' breakfast in the morning - don't eat like you'll be starving for days. I think a heavier breakfast is what keeps people from clearing out quickly. I'll use it again!"

• Lay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 14, 2018

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "I’m a 23-year-old female weighing 120 pounds. I have ulcerative colitis, pancreatitis, and gastroparesis, so I’ve been getting colonoscopies/endoscopies regularly since I was 17 when I was diagnosed. I usually use Prepopik, and it has always been easy to drink and easy on my stomach. This year, my doctor decided to have me try Clenpiq instead. She gave me a sample box, so I didn’t have to pay out of pocket for it. I took a Zofran before the first dose and drank the bottle in about a half hour. The taste wasn’t terrible, but it certainly wasn’t easy either. I only produced two movements in the span from 5 pm to 2 am. I drank the second bottle, it was easier to drink than the first one, but I threw it up about 20 minutes after finishing it. I laid in bed with a stomach ache and nausea the rest of the night with only one more movement. This is the worst experience I’ve had with prep so far. I wouldn’t suggest this product."

• Sea...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 8, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I've been getting colonoscopies for 20 years, so I'm no stranger to preps. They all taste horrendous, so when my doctor wanted to try this, I was excited. Unfortunately, it didn't work. It's definitely the easiest to drink, just a small amount of a sweet liquid, then 5 glasses of water. But after 2 hours, nothing. Drank more water (a gallon between 5 pm and 1 am). Still nothing, other than stomach gurgles and a massive headache. Took my second dose at 2 am, followed by a 1.5-liter bottle of water. Finally, things started at 3 am, but unlike other preps, I had to work for it. I kept drinking and going to the bathroom until 6 am (when I had to stop for the procedure), but I was not running clear at all... And I had gotten absolutely no sleep and still had a massive headache. My doctor was able to see what she needed during the scope, but she said the prep definitely did not work for me. I would much rather drink my usual Suprep, get some sleep, and be cleaned out than do this worthless prep again."

• not...
• November 16, 2022

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "The reviews have been helpful for my decision making with my (prescribed prep), which was 4 Ducolax tabs 2 hours prior to the 1st dose of Clenpiq. I did not take the Ducolax tabs. I started Clenpiq #1 at 5 pm, it started working about 30 minutes later. I drank all 5 cups of water and had hydrated myself early in the day with clear liquids. Important to stay hydrated. I did not have bad cramps at all. By 9 pm, it slowed down. By 10:30 pm, I drank #2 bottle, I drank it slowly this time because the aftertaste was making my stomach queasy. I drank 3/4 of the bottle because I knew that the first bottle was very effective. Had small trips to the commode, mostly water (bright yellow). I am so glad I did not take the biscodyl tabs as prescribed, it would have been bad as I am an older woman, 5'6, 124 lbs, and have a heart condition and not in great shape but still very active, working and such. Clenpiq was gentle and effective, and my doctor wrote that my prep was good and was able to examine the entire colon. Score 10."

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2021

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "I am a 29-year-old female who had to use Clenpiq. The first bottle was just fine, I had started my liquid diet an extra day early, and I drank it just fine. It started working about 45 minutes after drinking it. I went about 15 times and drank the fluid in between, like my doctor recommended. My doctor also recommended that I drink my second bottle at 8 pm. After this bottle, I felt terribly sick: nauseated, a TERRIBLE headache, stomach cramping, and I was up all night trying not to vomit. Overall, the doctor said I was very clean and things were easy to see, but I would probably only drink one bottle or do something different the next time. The terrible headache followed me home after my procedure and kept me up the night after. It was relieved by nothing, and I'm pretty sure I had hypermagnesemia. I am only 140 lbs too, I think the generic dosage coming in two bottles was a little much for my body weight. But anyway, it did its job."

• Mrs...
• May 23, 2017

Citric acid/magnesium oxide/sodium picosulfate for Bowel Preparation "Today I started my prep at 4 pm as instructed. I then drank a container of broth, 32 ounces, ginger ale, and water. Way more than the cups I was prescribed. All this caused was nausea and stomach cramps. Not one BM. Second dose at 8 pm. Already up to 40 ounces of fluids. I feel bloated. Nothing else. I haven't eaten in 24 hours. Thankfully, it was a sample."