Golytely
Golytely is an oral solution that prepares a patient for colonoscopy. The solution will help to cleanse the colon before the procedure and allow the doctor to see the inner section of the patient’s colon.
A clear visibility of the internal colon section will enable the doctor to thoroughly check for:
- polyps
- scarring on the colon walls
- detect any other foreign growths
Colonoscopy helps screen for early detection of colon cancer or other diseases related to the colon and rectum.
What is Inside Every Pack?
When Golytely is bought for colon prep, it contains a four-liter container with the powder in it. To prepare the solution, one has to pour water into the container up to the line indicated and then shake vigorously to ensure that all the powder has been incorporated into the water thoroughly.
The powder contains polyethylene glycol 3350, sodium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride and potassium chloride.
How Does It Work?
Golytely stimulates diarrhea to trigger the colon cleansing process. The liquid solution usually works within 4 hours of taking it. The electrolytes in the oral solution help the body maintain the right water level after emptying the digestive tract through induced diarrhea.
Who Should Avoid Taking Golytely?
The following people should avoid taking Golytely:
- If the patient is allergic to any of the ingredients included in the powder, Golytely will be unsuitable for them.
- The patient should also inform his / her medical practitioner if he / she has other health problems such as gastrointestinal obstruction, gastric retention, bowel perforation and toxic colitis.
- Women who suspect that they are pregnant should also inform their doctors, prior to taking the oral solution.
Side Effects of Taking Golytely
The following side effects have been experienced by some patients who have used Golytely:
- bloating
- nausea
If these symptoms become severe, the patient should consult the doctor and ask if he / she needs to control the intake of the solution.
Some More Pointers About Golytely
Usually, patients will be asked to take the oral solution at measurements of eight ounces every ten minutes until they have finished the whole container. Some patients find that even before finishing the whole container, they already feel that they have completely emptied their bowel.
The patient may ask the doctor if he / she should continue to finish the whole container or if he / she can stop taking it.
In some cases, patients find that even with the container emptied, they still feel that their colons are not completely cleansed. In cases such as this, the doctor may administer an enema procedure prior to the colonoscopy.
It is important that the patient follows all the instructions given by the doctor to ensure that the colonoscopy procedure is successful. Failure to do so can result in problems regarding the colonoscopy procedure and sometimes, if the colon is not completely cleansed, the procedure itself can get postponed to a later date.