User:Mr. Ibrahem/Macrogol

Macrogol, also known as polyethylene glycol (PEG), is used as a medication to treat constipation in children and adults. It is also used to empty the bowels before a colonoscopy. It is taken by mouth. Benefits usually occur within three days. Generally it is only recommended for up to two weeks.

Side effects may include increased bowel gas, abdominal pain, and nausea. Rare but serious side effects may include an abnormal heartbeat, seizures, and kidney problems. Use appears to be safe during pregnancy. It is classified as an osmotic laxative. It works by increasing the amount of water in the stool.

Macrogol came into use as a bowel prep in 1980 and was approved for medical use in the United States in 1999. It is available as a generic medication and over the counter. In the United Kingdom it costs the NHS about £0.14 per dose as of 2019. In the United States the wholesale cost of this amount is about US$1.40. In 2017, it was the 162nd most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than three million prescriptions. Typically it is formulated together with electrolytes.