FDA: POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL

[PoxEclipse]

A family member was advised to undergo a colonoscopy and ordered to drink a gallon of this wonderful solution prior to the event. The label on the gallon jug of liquid is polyethylene glycol. I remembered antifreeze containing glycol so I did some research...knowing beforehand that the results would not be good.

For your viewing pleasure I present to you: POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL

Is MiraLAX The Next Vioxx? No, It's Much Worse!

"Besides MiraLAX, this warning also applies to Movicol, Dulcolax, Colyte, Colovage, Co-Lav, Clensz-Lyte, ClearLax, GoLYTELY, GaviLyte C, GlycoLax, Go-Evac, GlycoPrep, E-Z-Em Fortrans, Halflytely, Lax-a-Day, LaxLyte, MoviPrep, Macrogol, NuLytely, OCL, Peg-Lyte, Prep Lyte, Softlax, TriLyte, and all other brands with Polyethylene Glycol 3350 (PEG for short) as their active ingredient. The “3350” qualifier refers to the molecular weight of this particular variant of PEG. Polyethylene glycol is made by stringing together molecules of ethylene glycol into a large polymer chain, hence the prefix poly-, Greek for many. On its own, ethylene glycol is used in automotive antifreeze and brake fluid. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, it is an extremely toxic substance:

“Ethylene glycol is chemically broken down in the body into toxic compounds. It and its toxic byproducts first affect the central nervous system (CNS), then the heart, and finally the kidneys. Ingestion of sufficient amounts [as little as 30 ml — KM] can be fatal.” [2]

Technically, PEG is an osmotic laxative. Because of this property, it blocks the absorption of nutrients in the small intestine. Its extended use may result in severe malnutrition-related disorders, particularly in young children and older adults. Autism is one such disorder. It may take only two weeks of an acute iron or iodine deficiency to cause autism in a child younger than two.

The same properties of PEG that make it an excellent toilet bowl cleaner, also wipe clean the mucosal membrane of the large intestine, leaving the colon unprotected and cancer-prone, a situation similar to a dry mouth. On top of the mucosal membrane damage, a high osmotic gradient of polyethylene glycol solution decimates intestinal bacteria — single cell organisms — just as mercilessly as antibacterial soaps, antibiotics, or heavy metals.

A single recommended dose of MiraLAX contains 17 grams of pharmaceutical grade PEG powder [6], a humongous amount of what is otherwise an industrial-strength anti-fungicide, insecticide, and germicide strong enough to preserve wood beams, railroad ties, and electrical poles from fungi, insects, and bacteria practically forever. It works by displacing water in wood, which makes it resistant to warping and rotting.

This is kind of ironic — the same people who will go out of their way to “eat organic” in order to avoid traces — we are talking micrograms — of fungicides, insecticides, and germicides in their foods, will then go on and ingest a heaping tablespoon of polyethylene glycol-containing laxative without blinking an eye. Or give it to their children..."

 

[KittenofMelchisedek]

people will do a lot of foolish things when they can't poop...try working in health care. LOL

 

[RedTent]

I would be dead now if it wasn't for the colonoscopy that caught the tumor that was just precancerous and got it out. If I hadn't cleaned my colon completely out with the poison they couldn't have found and gotten rid of what would have been cancer. My body has handled the poison I put in it so this could be done, but it couldn't have handled the cancer.

 

[ngmoody]

Well colon and rectal cancer are small growing cancers.

 

[PoxEclipse]

236

Properly preparing for a colonoscopy procedure
What you need to know to ensure the best results

Aware that there are many misconceptions regarding the best way to prepare for a colonoscopy exam, Dr. Michael Goodman strongly encourages his patients to use liquid laxatives such as those pictured above. "There is no question that this method produces the best result in cleaning out the colon - and getting a good exam," says the local GI specialist. -Photo by David Humber

By PAT CHARLES
Better Health Writer

A colonoscopy is a procedure used to screen for abnormalities in the colon such as cancer, polyps and diverticula. During the exam, a long, flexible tube is inserted through the rectum allowing a doctor to view the inside of the colon.

It is imperative that the colon be clear of stool and non-transparent fluids prior to a colonoscopy since they can obscure the physician's view of abnormal areas. Unfortunately, misconceptions abound as to the best method of preparing for a colonoscopy. While the cleansing process can be done more than one way, there is one form of preparation considered by most GI specialists to be the "gold standard." This preparation involves drinking from a gallon jug of a liquid laxative, such as Nulytely, Golytely or Colyte. According to local GI specialist, Dr. Michael Goodman, "This method produces the best results - by far," noting that there are many tricks of the trade in making the "gold standard" process easier:

1. THE TWO BIGGEST COMPLAINTS CONCERN VOLUME AND TASTE, but both of these issues can be easily addressed, says Dr. Goodman. Colonoscopy patients today are often instructed to take over-the-counter Dulcolax tablets (even at work) around noon the day before the test. This is a very effective method of "priming the pump: and can reduce the necessity of drinking the entire gallon of liquid laxative later on," says a staff nurse.

2. DRINK ONLY AS MUCH AS YOU CAN SWIG DOWN AT ONE TIME. Even though the manufacturer's instructions suggest eight-ounce portions, Dr. Goodman recommends you first determine how much liquid you can drink "straight on down" at one time. For many people, that's about five or six ounces. Use a straw, if that helps, but the key is not to sip or take small swallows.

3. TO FLAVOR OR NOT TO FLAVOR is literally a matter of taste. While there are several flavored powders to make the liquid laxative more palatable, Dr. Goodman recommends (for first timers, in particular) starting with the unflavored version. Otherwise you may end up with a full jug of flavored liquid that doesn't taste appealing. If the unflavored version doesn't work, then add one of the flavor packets that comes with the jug. And keep the jug refrigerated throughout the process, since chilling reduces the aftertaste.

4. SLOW AND STEADY IS GOING TO WIN THE RACE when it comes to consuming large quantities of liquid. Don't feel you have to swig down a glass, then do it again a few minutes later. "You can space out the drinking process every half hour, even longer, if you need to," Dr. Goodman says, stressing the importance of "going about your business" between drinks. Don't sit and do nothing during this process; otherwise, you'll begin to dwell on "all that drinking."

5. IF NECESSARY, CAMOUFLAGE TASTE AFTER DRINKING by sucking on lemon drops or Popsicles or chewing Big Red gum.

6. REMEMBER YOUR GOAL which is to produce a clean colon. Often you don't need to ingest the entire jug of liquid. Just drink until everything coming out is clear. The body produces bile so if there's still a yellow or greenish tint after drinking the liquid, don't worry. The ideal color should resemble apple juice. Likewise, don't fret if your final bathroom trip (the night before the procedure) is clear, but in the morning, you see a muddy substance or "tiny balls of stool," These are the last remnants of stool, often dislodged from tiny sacs or pockets lining the colon called diverticula, and are no cause for alarm.

7. TELL YOU DOCTOR IF YOU'RE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR COLON BEING CLEANED OUT the day of the exam. Often a Fleet enema can be administered at the hospital to flush out the last bit of stool sediment.

8. DON'T BE DELUDED INTO THINKING THERE IS A SIMPLE PILL VERSION OF PREPARATION. The pill that many people have heard about is not one pill - it is a bottle of pills. And they have to be taken, several at a time, with eight ounces of water and often up to three hours before the colonoscopy exam itself. Most importantly, this option is often not as effective as the liquid laxative in producing an unobstructed view for the physician. Without a clear view of the colon lining, cancerous polyps could be missed.

9. BE AWARE THAT OTHER PREPARATION OPTIONS such as the two-day Magnesium Citrate/Fleet PhosphoSoda method or the Fleet PhosphoSoda "Dilution Solution" each involve more steps than the "gold standard" and neither offers as strong assurance of producing a squeaky clean colon. If your colon is not completely cleansed, the entire procedure may have to be rescheduled for another day.

"The key to having a successful colonoscopy is to get the colon cleaned out properly," Dr. Goodman tells his patients, "and if you're going to do the job, you need to do it right." It is well worth the four to six hours of preparation the night before a colonoscopy to get a good exam, noted the local gastroenterologist, adding, "there is no question that the liquid laxative method produces the best result."


Polyethylene Glycol 3350/Gatorade Colonoscopy Preparation

Complete Polyethylene Glycol-Electrolyte Solution (PEG-ES) information from Drugs.com

GOLYTELY (POLYETHYLENE GLYCOL 3350, SODIUM SULFATE ANHYDROUS, SODIUM BICARBONATE, SODIUM CHLORIDE, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE) POWDER [BRAINTREE LABORATORIES, INC.]

A white powder in a 4 liter jug for reconstitution, containing 236g polyethylene glycol 3350, 22.74g sodium sulfate (anhydrous), 6.74g sodium bicarbonate, 5.86g sodium chloride and 2.97g potassium chloride. When dissolved in water to a volume of 4 liters, GoLYTELY (PEG-3350 and electrolytes for oral solution) is an isosmotic solution having a mildly salty taste. GoLYTELY is administered orally or via nasogastric tube as a gastrointestinal lavage.


"A single recommended dose of MiraLAX contains 17 grams of pharmaceutical grade PEG powder [6], a humongous amount of what is otherwise an industrial-strength anti-fungicide, insecticide, and germicide strong enough to preserve wood beams, railroad ties, and electrical poles from fungi, insects, and bacteria practically forever. It works by displacing water in wood, which makes it resistant to warping and rotting."