Clenpiq

Clenpiq cleanses the colon in preparation for a colonoscopy. It is important to hydrate adequately with clear liquids before, during and after use of Clenpiq.

Clenpiq Overview

Reviewed: January 11, 2018
Updated: 

Clenpiq is a prescription medication used to empty the colon in adults before a colonoscopy.

It is a single product containing 3 medications: sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and anhydrous citric acid.

Sodium picosulfate belongs to a group of drugs called stimulant laxatives. These work by stimulating colon movement. Magnesium oxide and anhydrous citric acid come together to form an osmotic laxative. These work by causing watery diarrhea. These 3 medications work together to clean out the colon.

This medication comes in liquid form. One dose (1 bottle) is taken twice before a colonoscopy.

Common side effects of Clenpiq include nausea, headache, and vomiting.

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Clenpiq Cautionary Labels

precautionsprecautionsprecautions

Uses of Clenpiq

Clenpiq is a prescription medication used to empty the colon in adults before a colonoscopy.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and anhydrous citric acid

For more information on this medication choose from the list of selections below.

Side Effects of Clenpiq

Serious side effects have been reported with Clenpiq. See the “Clenpiq Precautions” section.

Common side effects of Clenpiq include the following:

  • nausea
  • headache
  • vomiting

This is not a complete list of Clenpiq side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Tell your doctor if you have any side effects that bother you or that do not go away.

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Clenpiq Interactions

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take:

  • any antibiotics
  • any iron products, digoxin, chlorpromazine, penicillamine, doxycycline, minocycline, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin. These medications should be taken at least 2 hours before and not less than 6 hours after Clenpiq.
  • medications that affect fluid status in the body such as diuretics, including hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, triamterene, acetazolamide, and spironolactone.
  • medications that affect electrolytes in the body like certain blood pressure medications, including lisinopril, benazepril, ramipril, losartan, and valsartan.
  • NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as celecoxib, diclofenac, etodolac, ibuprofen, meloxicam, or naproxen 

This is not a complete list of Clenpiq drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Clenpiq Precautions

Serious side effects have been reported with Clenpiq including the following:

  • loss of too much fluid. Tell your healthcare provider if you have symptoms of too much fluid loss, including vomiting, stomach cramping, nausea, urinate less, bloating, dizziness, trouble swallowing, or seizures.
  • holes, or ulcers, in the bowel. Tell your healthcare provider immediately if you have any severe pain in the stomach or any rectal bleeding.

Do not take Clenpiq if you:

  • are allergic to Clenpiq or to any of its ingredients
  • have stage 4 or stage 5 kidney disease
  • have a blockage in your intestine or gastrointestinal (GI) obstruction
  • have a hole in your stomach or intestines or bowel perforation
  • have toxic colitis or toxic megacolon
  • have trouble emptying food and fluid from your stomach, or gastric retention

Clenpiq Food Interactions

Medications can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of Clenpiq, there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving this medication.

Inform MD

Before taking Clenpiq, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions. Especially tell your doctor if you:

  • are allergic to Clenpiq or to any of its ingredients
  • have problems with loss of fluids (dehydration) or changes in electrolytes
  • have a history of seizures or take medicines for seizures
  • have low salt or sodium level
  • are withdrawing from drinking alcohol or from taking benzodiazepines
  • have kidney problems
  • have heart problems
  • have stomach problems such as ulcerative colitis 
  • have problems with swallowing or gastric reflux
  • are pregnant or plan to become pregnant
  • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Clenpiq and Pregnancy

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

There are no well-done studies that have been done in humans with Clenpiq. In animal studies, pregnant animals were given this medication, and the babies did not show any medical issues related to this medication.

Clenpiq and Lactation

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed.

It is not known if Clenpiq crosses into human milk. Because many medications can cross into human milk and because of the possibility for serious adverse reactions in nursing infants with use of this medication, a choice should be made whether to stop nursing or stop the use of this medication. Your doctor and you will decide if the benefits outweigh the risk of using Clenpiq.

Clenpiq Usage

Take Clenpiq exactly as prescribed.

Clenpiq comes in ready-to-drink liquid form. One bottle of Clenpiq is 1 dose. For colonoscopy preparation, two doses of Clenpiq is taken.

Follow your healthcare provider's directions to take Clenpiq. Clenpiq can be taken 2 different ways, including:

  • the Split-Dose method. The first dose is taken the evening before the colonoscopy. The second dose is taken the morning prior to colonoscopy.
  • the Day-Before method. The first dose is taken during the afternoon or early evening before the colonoscopy. The second dose is taken 6 hours after the first dose in the evening before colonoscopy

Both methods require you to drink more fluids on top of Clenpiq. Follow your healthcare provider's instructions for how much fluids need to be consumed and when to stop drinking fluids. Only consume clear liquids when preparing for a colonoscopy.

If you have any bloating or feeling like your stomach is upset, wait to take the second dose of Clenpiq until your stomach feels better.

Other things to remember while taking Clenpiq:

  • Do not eat solids foods, consume any dairy products such as millk, or consume any alcohol while taking Clenpiq,
  • Do not eat or drink anything colored red or purple before colonoscopy.
  • Do not take any other laxatives while taking Clenpiq.
  • Do not take any oral medications within 1 hour of taking each dose.
  • If taking any iron products, digoxin, chlorpromazine, penicillamine, doxycycline, minocycline, levofloxacin, and ciprofloxacin, these medications should be taken at least 2 hours before and not less than 6 hours after Clenpiq.

Clenpiq Dosage

Take this medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow the directions on your prescription label carefully.

The recommended dose of Clenpiq for colonoscopy preparation is 1 bottle which is 160 mL of solution. Both the Split-Dose and the Day-Before method require 2 doses of Clenpiq.

Clenpiq Overdose

If you take too much Clenpiq, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

Other Requirements

  • Store at room temperature between 68 to 77°F (20 to 25°C).
  • Keep this and all medicines out of the reach of children.