Plenvu and Dehydration: What Users Say

• Cyn...
• June 11, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "Want to lose 13 lbs in 2 days along with all your electrolytes, every single drop of water in your body, and your general will to live? If so, try new Plenvu bowel prep, where our motto is 'if you didn't have hemorrhoids before, you do now!' Dose 1 comes in our great new mango, burned car tire, toilet bowl cleaner sludge flavor! Take it before bed to ensure you get zero sleep and wake up hating everyone and everything. If you survive the night, you get rewarded with another dose at 4 a.m. This one comes in the only slightly less repulsive flavor of fruit punch, saltwater, and enough Aspartame to give cancer to an entire 3rd world country! Side effects include pooping your brains out for days before, during, and after your procedure, anal bleeding, severe muscle cramps, joint pain, headache, severe dehydration, and hoping you poop on the doctor who made you wait an hour and a half after your appointment time to begin your colonoscopy."

• Ano...
• February 10, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "I give this a 3 because it worked, but at what cost? I essentially gave myself a case of stomach flu for 12 hrs. Strangely, I became very cold after each dose, which the nurse told me is very common. I thought I might get a chance to sleep an hour here or there, but absolutely not. I was still hitting the toilet after arriving at the hospital for my appointment (multiple times). The nausea and dehydration were intense, as I was told not to have any more fluids 4 hrs before the appointment. I see plenty of people have described the taste accurately, so I'll simply say that it takes an iron will to keep it down. Everyone else I've talked to has had great luck with the Miralax & Dulcolax combo. Much cheaper, effective, and better tasting. Why use Plenvu at all?"

• CRa...
• November 9, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I survived colorectal cancer in 2007 and have a shortened colon as a result of the surgeries. I have had a number of colonoscopies since then, the preps have been uncomfortable but tolerable. Plenvu was the most horrible bowel preparation experience and most painful ever! I had shooting diarrhea all night long. My poor sister, my caregiver, spent from midnight until 5 a.m. changing my bed, cleaning me, and cleaning the bathroom, over and over again. Then the vomiting started! I was SOOO dehydrated, I was weak and could hardly walk. I never even took the second dose, and we almost called for an ambulance to get to the ER. We had to cancel the colonoscopy. When my sister explained what had happened, they said they would give her something else for prep, something 'not as harsh.' Harsh was a huge understatement!!!! NEVER again!!!"

• Woo...
• March 18, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "This was my 3rd colonoscopy, so I knew what to expect up until I started the Plenvu bowel cleanse regimen. In simplest terms, “This stuff is poison.” I can’t believe the Food and Drug Administration approved this. The taste was absolutely horrible, and it made my stomach upset and burn a bit. I followed the directions and had a bowel movement within the hour, which turned into urinating out of my butt. Having stomach cramps, butt leakage, and extreme thirst hampered my night's sleep. The next morning, I took the second dose, which was just as bad as the first. I could feel my body starving for water, as this stuff sucked all my body fluids into my colon. I didn’t stop urinating out of my butt until 10 minutes before my procedure. It did clean me out, but with a huge price to pay. Five days later, I’m still feeling the effects of dehydration, loss of electrolytes, along with a dull headache and fatigue. Never will I use this med again."

• Joa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 18, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I wrote my last review after my first dose. Well, four hours after my second dose, my thoughts have changed. The first one was easy. The second dose made me nauseous about halfway through. I didn't finish the liquid because it would have made me vomit. Not that it mattered. I've spent the last four hours on the toilet. My backside is raw. It hurts so bad I cry every time I have to clean it. And I'm very dehydrated. I could keep myself hydrated with the first dose because I could drink, but I couldn't drink past midnight. Which meant I took my second dose by itself. Telling someone to take a second dose during a time when you're not supposed to drink is just cruel. Does it work? Yes. But I'm not sure it's worth it."

• Bul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I wanted a low-volume prep this time, but I knew Medicare would not cover the cost, which is about $150.00, so I asked my Dr. if he had samples. He offered this, I was happy till I read the reviews here. My results were very good. First off, I did not take any additional laxatives, as was suggested. Their web page said not needed, and they were correct. My colonoscopy was for 9 AM, the day before I ate no solid foods, and at 2 PM I took dose one. Tips for taking from online research: mix the prep 2 hours before and refrigerate. When you are ready, add some ice and use a straw to take small sips. Dose one went down smoothly, yes, it is very artificially sweet but was tolerable. Started working rather quickly, 25 minutes, and lasted about 2 hours. Not too bad. Dose two for me was at 9 PM and was a bit harder to finish, and the flush was longer, about 3 hours, but I was asleep by 1 AM. My other tip is to drink a lot of water, more is better here. I woke up a bit dehydrated and asked for fluids in my IV."

• Ton...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 6, 2023

For Bowel Preparation "The worst-tasting concoction I have ever had, and never again in my lifetime. Why didn't I check the reviews, I will never know. I have used Colonlyte in the past, and it was a pleasure to use, why my doctor told me I had to use Plenvu, I don't know. So if you like the horrible taste of old paint, the same consistency, toxic salt, and enough sweetener to sink a ship, go for it. If you think that was the only problem, you are mistaken: severe dehydration, migraines, and massive stomach cramps so severe, causing body-wide cramps at random. Gagging until you slam your head on the sink, pooping every 15 minutes after the initial wait of two hours, but then lasting right up to the procedure even after the doctor made me wait two hours. I hope I pooped all over him, I pooped for 19 hours straight, no let up, every 15 minutes. I did not sleep all night as the cramps and pooping every 15 minutes prevented that. Then at 7:00 am, the second assault, you take the next lot that tasted like sump oil, and try not to vomit."

• Pis...
• March 28, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "This was a horrendous prep for a colonoscopy. I had one prior with no ill feelings towards the prep. This Plenvu prep, however, was horrible and if I had to use it again for a colonoscopy, I wouldn't have one. I'm sitting here after my second dose, feeling so dehydrated and wondering if it is safe for me to undergo anesthesia in this dehydrated and probably electrolyte depleted state for the procedure. I could barely get the first dose down, it tasted so disgusting and I could only force down 75%. I took it at 6 PM as directed and was still getting up in the middle of the night to have fluid pour out of me. I got up this morning for a dose at 5 AM. It tasted a little better but was still hard to get down, then I followed it with the prescribed amount of water. Fluid has been pouring out of me ever since and I am so dehydrated I can barely talk. There are much better products out there than this. This one is horrendous and ought to be taken off of the market."

• kmr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2024

For Bowel Preparation "I have to admit I was terrified to take this after reading the reviews. But, it actually was not as bad as I was thinking. The first dose was much more tolerable than the 2nd dose. Took 1st dose at 6 pm the day before my colonoscopy and the 2nd dose at midnight. I was able to get the first dose down in about 15 minutes and took an hour to have my first movement. Caused a lot of rumbling in my stomach but wasn't too bad. However, the 2nd dose took me about 40 minutes to get down and I wasn't quite sure I'd get it all down. But, I was determined so I made it happen. Sipped ginger ale in between sips of Plenvu for both doses. After the 2nd dose I felt very nauseous with a headache. Stomach rumbled a lot and used the bathroom several times during the night. Woke up at 6:30 for my procedure and felt pretty awful due to the severe dehydration and was extremely thirsty. My recommendations are to stay hydrated the day before and drink ginger ale with med. Other drinks did not help."

• Sue...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 11, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "I am a fit 79-year-old. Walk 10 kilometers a day minimum. I weigh 51 kilograms. From the moment I started taking this obnoxious, aggressive Plenvu, I had diarrhea within the hour. Persevered with it. Vomited and diarrhea constantly until I was helped onto the theater table the next day. Had my colonoscopy (my 5th). I was and am still severely dehydrated. Rehydrated at A & E. I think this horrific drug dosage should be administered according to the weight of the patient. There is no doubt it was too much for my weight of 51 kilograms. I will NEVER take it again. Home ill in bed can only take liquids like Aquarius, electrolyte mixes, and tea."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 12, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "Awful, awful!! Absolutely disgusting taste. Very hard to get down! I threw up the second dose about an hour after finishing it. Gave me a horrible headache. I was extremely dehydrated, and my procedure ended up being canceled. Would not recommend this prep!!!"

• Nev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 21, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "Dose 1 was reasonable. Said mango, but tasted like salty fake peach flavoring. Dose 2 was the most horrific thing tasted in my life. Package said fruit punch - was a cross between fake bubblegum & tutti frutti. Liquid was extremely viscous & slurry-like. Dose 1 caused no reaction but mild gurgling for 4 hours. Three minor bowel movements later & it was over. Dose 2 reaction was immediate & continued for 6 hours, until the procedure. Also, 15 minutes after drinking the chaser of water, I experienced projectile vomiting - hadn’t vomited in over 20 years. Other: severe dehydration. Work in a desert environment; temps over 100°F, & 14 hours without urinating - I’ve never been so dry. Could barely speak for a thick tongue & gums/cheeks/tongue sticking together. The nurse had to use a pediatric needle for IV; even then required 2 tries to hit the blood vessel - tourniquet wasn’t making a vessel “pop.” Never been an issue before. I highly recommend against the use of Plenvu - I certainly will never use it again."

• Ewa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 8, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "After reading the reviews, I want to share my honest experience. My first dose was honestly fine, the flavor isn’t as bad as people make it out to be. Yes, it’s thick, yes, it’s very sweet and salty, but it’s a laxative… it’s not meant to taste amazing. After completing it, I passed stool for around an hour until it became clear, with minimal nausea and no stomach pains - it was simple. The second sachet was worse, but it wasn’t unbearable. I only managed to get through 3/4 of the last one, as I needed to rush to the toilet after 20 minutes of taking it. This one really kicked in. I was on the toilet for longer, but it was worth it, as it worked. The liquid was a bright yellow, not sure if that’s normal, but hey, it worked. I felt pretty dehydrated and tired afterward, but that’s it. My tip - drink plenty of water during and after prep and chew chewing gum… that’s literally it!"

• Sha...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I was given Plenvu to prep for my third colonoscopy. Having had previous stomach surgery, I thought the lower volume prep would be a good thing. First of all…the taste. While you do not expect any of this stuff to taste good, this was disgusting. Thick, salty, and extremely sweet. Was able to get both doses down but was using anti-nausea drug with it. So thankful I had that. I did not experience cramping but extreme loss of bodily fluid. I have never had so much liquid come out of my body with any other prep. I was cold, clammy, and weak beyond words by the time I arrived for my procedure. I actually lost 8 pounds overnight, which certainly is not healthy. I believe this prep totally dehydrated me. Yes…it cleaned me out, which it is designed to do, but at what cost? I won’t be using this one again!"

• Wel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2023

For Bowel Preparation "The first sachet of mango-flavored liquid was almost undrinkable and had to be consumed within 30 mins, followed by another 500 ml of plain water. The water was great compared to the first sachet. The second dose at 9:00 PM was made up of two sachets, allegedly of another 500 ml with punch fruit flavor, and was totally undrinkable. I forced myself to, but felt quite sick as it tasted not of punch fruit but some sickly chemically based sweetener. Aspartame, no doubt. The preparation has a more vigorous and longer-lasting laxative effect than other preps I have taken and gave me quite strong stomach cramps. I felt really dehydrated, exhausted, and cold even through the procedure despite drinking plenty. I started my preparation at 6 PM yesterday and was still needing the toilet at 4:00 AM and then again at 9:30 this morning. This is not an improvement on previous preparations - how can this have been trialed by Norgine and considered to be an improvement?"

• Pas...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2019

For Bowel Preparation "This was my 3rd colonoscopy, worst prep and aftereffects yet. Was barely able to keep the first night dose down. Morning prep was somewhat better but was severely dehydrated. Lost all color, weak, wobbly, had to get extra IV fluids before/during the procedure. After I left, I drank several large glasses of fluids to feel somewhat normal. Still had squirts that evening. I asked for NEVER USE PLENVU AGAIN to be in my file in red letters."

• Cru...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 30, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "Packet 1 of Plenvu began at 4 PM, and within 20 minutes or less, the bathroom started. Thankfully, I never felt cramping or such urgency I couldn't hold it to make it to the toilet, so that was good. However, yes, the taste was awful - using a straw, holding my nose, could NOT disguise that super salty, icky taste, but I knew what I had to do and did it. The bathroom trips were pretty constant between 4:30 PM and about 7:30 PM. I fell asleep at about 8:30 PM, and honestly, was already super clear, so my mom was telling me, 'do NOT get up at 3:00 AM and take the second dose, you'll be fine.....' BUT I wanted to be compliant, so I got up at 3 AM and began Packets 2 & 3 (Dose two is 2 packets). Same awful salty taste, but honestly was better (more tolerable) WARM than COLD. It took about a half hour to hit, and it wasn't that many bathroom trips, BUT the nausea and weakness hit - THREW IT ALL UP. At the procedure, they had to stick me 3 times to get a vein (due to dehydration), but the colonoscopy was fine - all cleared out."

• Sha...
• February 23, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I started my clear liquid diet the day before my procedure. At 7 PM, I mixed Dose 1 in the container. I didn’t think to use cold water, but I didn’t find the taste unpleasant for me. I have used many other preps before that tasted horrible. So far, this one was the best. I followed it with the mandatory 16 oz. About an hour later, it began to work. I was up and down periodically through the night. At 7 AM, I mixed Dose 2a&b together. That one was harder to tolerate. It was a lot saltier to the taste. I drank the 16 oz afterwards and a little more. On the plus side, everything was totally clear. On the negative, I was so thirsty. I was so dehydrated by the time I had my procedure they had to get the anesthesiologist to start my IV. Now it is 24 hours after the first dose and 12 hours after the second, and I am still having clear watery discharge from my rectum. Absolutely no appetite, but have been drinking a lot since I got home. Hopefully, this will soon pass."

• Pen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 14, 2021

For Bowel Preparation "I did the 2-day option. The only positive I can give this godawful prep is it definitely cleans you out. The negative... absolutely vile tasting, but that's not the worst thing. The hype that it tastes good is an absolute lie. After eating lightly for 3 days prior and drinking plenty of fluids, including Gatorade all day the day of the prep, I was so dehydrated the nurse couldn't find a vein for my IV. I am extremely pale-skinned, and my veins are very visible normally. My veins were so constricted from dehydration that my veins were invisible. I've had 3 prior colonoscopies, surgery, blood draws, etc., and never did anyone have trouble locating a vein in my arm. It is now 2 days post-colonoscopy, and I really feel out of it and very woozy. I'm continuing to drink lots of water in hopes it's just lingering effects from dehydration and will cease soon. I really thought I did my research before requesting this prep. The gastro staff had never heard of it. I am very sorry I did."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 30, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "They love this prep in Belgium. It worked, but even though I started much earlier than recommended, I have literally been sitting on the toilet for 5 hours now and daren't go to bed. Anything I drink goes straight through my gut. Guess you could say it's worked, but surely there's an easier way - I am dehydrated and exhausted and still have to go through the procedure. Didn't throw up, but the stuff sure tastes vile."

• Sim...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 8, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "Oh my God, this stuff is hell in a packet. Took the 2 sachets at the designated times, 6 PM and 9 PM, along with 500 ml of water, followed by more water. Went to bed with no sign of it working, but 1 AM all hell broke loose. I was going to the loo every 15 minutes for 9 hours, resulting in severe dehydration, nausea, chills, uncontrollable shaking. Procedure was canceled, and they said they would reschedule it. Not blinking likely they can forget putting me through that again."

• Bac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 18, 2022

For Bowel Preparation "I would rate this Rx a 0 if I could. My husband used this product before his procedure on Nov 23, 2021. He made it through the prep and the procedure just fine. However, by the second day after, he was dehydrated, had a dry mouth, and was drinking a ton of water because of it. He was peeing like a racehorse every 30 minutes. His bowel movements did not return to normal for almost 1.5 months. We started him on electrolytes after thinking about why he was feeling like he was, and that has helped somewhat. His taste for food has radically changed, cannot eat anything remotely dry as his salivary glands are not working correctly due to dehydration. He also has lost 40 lbs due to not being able to digest the nutrients from his food."

• Anonymous
• October 1, 2020

For Bowel Preparation "Plenvu has caused projectile vomiting, severe headache, stuffy nose, and dehydration. The company was called for a refund. Terrible experience!"