Magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and sodium sulfate

Magnesium, potassium, and sodium are minerals that help balance fluids in the body.

Magnesium, potassium, and sodium sulfates (Sutab) is a combination medicine that causes diarrhea to prepare your colon for a colonoscopy. This bowel prep helps doctors see your colon more clearly during the procedure.

Magnesium, potassium, and sodium sulfates may also be used for other reasons not mentioned in this medication guide.

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Carefully follow all instructions about what to eat or drink in the days before your bowel prep, and when to stop eating solid foods.

Sutab is usually taken in 2 doses. Each dose consists of 12 tablets taken at one time, with 16 ounces of water. Take the first dose the evening before your colonoscopy and take the second dose the morning of your colonoscopy.

Read and carefully follow any Instructions for Use provided with your medicine. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you do not understand these instructions.

You will need to drink extra water once you start your bowel prep. Drink only clear liquids and avoid alcohol, milk, or any drink that is red or purple.

You should be finished with all doses at least 2 hours before your colonoscopy.

This medicine can cause severe dehydration, which can lead to a serious electrolyte imbalance, seizures, or kidney failure. Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting and cannot drink enough water for your bowel prep, or if you have a headache, dizziness, or decreased urination.

Store at room temperature.

This medicine can cause severe dehydration, which can lead to a serious electrolyte imbalance, seizures, or kidney failure.

Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting and cannot drink enough water for your bowel prep, or if you have a headache, dizziness, or decreased urination.

You should not use Sutab if you are allergic to magnesium sulfate, potassium sulfate, or sodium sulfate, or if you have:

• a bowel obstruction, colitis, or toxic megacolon;
• a dilated intestine;
• a perforation (a hole or tear) of your intestines; or
• slow digestion.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

• heart problems, including long QT syndrome;
• a stomach or intestinal disorder such as ulcerative colitis;
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
• trouble swallowing;
• an electrolyte imbalance (such as low levels of potassium, magnesium, or sodium in your blood);
• a seizure;
• kidney disease; or
• if you are in withdrawal from alcoholism or addiction to Valium-like sedatives (benzodiazepines).

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.

This medicine is not approved for use by anyone younger than 18 years old.

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Call your doctor right away if you have:

• trouble drinking liquids;
• nausea, painful bloating, stomach cramps, vomiting;
• little or no urination;
• a seizure;
• rectal bleeding; or
• signs of an electrolyte imbalance--increased thirst or urination, confusion, slurred speech, dizziness, weakness, feeling jittery or unsteady, constipation, muscle pain or weakness, leg cramps, numbness or tingling, irregular heartbeats, fluttering in your chest.

Common side effects of magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and sodium sulfate may include:

• stomach pain or discomfort;
• nausea, vomiting; or
• mild bloating.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Call your doctor if you are unable to drink all of the medicine and liquids as instructed before your colonoscopy.

An overdose is unlikely to happen if you take magnesium sulfate, potassium chloride, and sodium sulfate exactly as instructed.

Do not take other laxatives during your bowel prep.

Sutab can make it harder for your body to absorb other medicines you take by mouth (orally). Do not take any oral medicine within 1 hour before you start taking Sutab.

If you take any of the following medicines, take your Sutab dose 6 hours before or 2 hours after you take the other medicine:

• chlorpromazine;
• digoxin;
• iron; or
• certain antibiotics--ciprofloxacin, delafloxacin, gemifloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin, penicillamine, tetracycline.

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

• heart or blood pressure medication;
• a diuretic or "water pill";
• medicine to treat a kidney problem;
• medicine for depression or mental illness;
• seizure medication; or
• NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete. Other drugs may affect Sutab, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.