Table 1. Mechanical bowel preparations used in colonoscopy and colon resections.

Class of agent/mechanism of action	Preparation/formulation	Product brand name	Manufacturer's details	Recommended dosing
Osmotic cathartic
	Sodium phosphate tablets	Visicol	Salix Pharmaceuticals, Morrisville, NC	3 Tablets every 15 min to total 20 tablets, repeat with 12-20 tablets 10-12 h later (at least 3 h before procedure)
		OsmoPrep	Salix Pharmaceuticals, Morrisville, NC	As above
	Aqueous sodium phosphate	Fleet	CB Fleet, Lynchburg, VA	30-45 mL of solution taken with 32 oz of liquid; repeat 10 h later
	Magnesium citrate			10 oz of magnesium citrate with 8 oz of water each hour for total of 4 h; repeat regimen 4 h later
Nonabsorbed osmotic agent
	4-L PEG-ELS gastrointestinal lavage solution	GoLytely	Braintree Laboratories, Holbrook, MA	240 mL every 10 min the evening before procedure
		Colyte	Schwarz Pharma, Inc., Milwaukee, WI	4 L taken as a single dose
	4-L SF-PEG solution	NuLYTELY	Braintree Laboratories, Holbrook, MA	3 L followed by 1 L 10-12 hours later (at least 3 h before procedure)
		TriLyte	Schwarz Pharma, Inc., Milwaukee, WI	As above
	2-L PEG + ascorbate	MoviPrep	Salix Pharmaceuticals, Morrisville, NC	240 mL every 15 min to total 1 L, followed by 16 oz of fluid; repeat regimen at least 3 h before procedure
Stimulant laxative (contact irritant)	Bisacodyl	Dulcolax	Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Ridgefield, CT	2-4 (5 mg) tablets taken in a single dose
Combination osmotic/laxative	Sodium picosulfate/magnesium citrate (sodium picosulfate 0.01 g, magnesium oxide 3.5 g, citric acid 12.0 g per sachet), with the magnesium oxide and citric acid components forming magnesium citrate when the powder is dissolved	CitraFleet	Aptalis, Birmingham, AL	Powder form (sodium picosulfate 0.01 g, magnesium oxide 3.5 g, citric acid 12.0 g per sachet), with the magnesium oxide and citric acid components forming magnesium citrate when the powder is dissolved in water
		Picolax	Ferring Pharmaceuticals Ltd, London, UK	As above
Combination nonabsorbed osmotic/laxative	2-L PEG-ELS gastrointestinal lavage solution + bisacodyl	HalfLytely	Braintree Laboratories, Holbrook, MA	10 mg bisacodyl 5 h before 240 mL every 10 min to total 1 L, repeat 240 mL every 10 min to total 1 L starting 3-4 h before procedure
	2-L PEG + bisacodyl	MiraLAX	Schering-Plough, Kenilworth, NJ	As above

Abbreviations: h, hour; min, minute; PEG, polyethylene glycol; PEG-ELS, polyethylene glycol with electrolytes, SF-PEG, sulfate-free polyethylene glycol.

Source: Adapted from Beck DE. Mechanical bowel cleansing for surgery. Perspect Colon Rectal Surg 1994;7:97-114.