Possible side effects
Like all medicines Plenvu® can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Some side effects are more common than others so it is important to familiarise yourself with them so you can react appropriately.
Due to the laxative effect of Plenvu®, it is normal to get diarrhoea when you take it. If you do not have a bowel moment within 6 hours after taking Plenvu®, you should stop taking the product and contact your healthcare professional immediately.
You should not take Plenvu® if you are allergic to the active substances or any of the other ingredients as this may cause an allergic reaction. For a full list of allergens please read the Patient Information Leaflet – UK | Ireland.
Stop taking Plenvu® and immediately contact your healthcare professional if you notice any of the following side effects:
- Seizure
- Extreme fatigue
- Palpitations (pounding or noticeable heartbeat)
- Rash or itching
- Shortness of breath
- Swelling of your face, ankles or other part of your body
If you experience vomiting (with or without blood) in combination with sudden chest, neck or abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing or difficulty breathing when taking Plenvu®, you should stop taking the medicine and promptly contact your doctor.
Plenvu® can cause dehydration if you do not consume enough clear fluid alongside your doses. This can cause some side effects that you should report to your healthcare professional immediately, including:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Urinating less often than normal
- Vomiting
If you experience sudden abdominal pain or rectal bleeding when taking Plenvu® for bowel preparation, contact your doctor or seek medical advice immediately.
Rarely, serious heart rhythm problems may occur when taking laxatives for a bowel preparation, especially in patients with underlying cardiac disease or salts disturbance. Your heart may feel like it’s pounding, fluttering or beating irregularly, often for a few seconds or possibly a few minutes. If the symptoms continue, you should talk to your healthcare professional.
Common and uncommon side effects
Below you can see a list of common and uncommon side effects that may be experienced when taking Plenvu®. It is not possible to know which you may experience, you may not experience any at all.
Common side effects (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)
- Dehydration
- Nausea (feeling sick)
- Vomiting
Uncommon side effects (may affect up to 1 in 100 people)
- Abdominal bloating and pain
- Aches and pains
- Allergic reaction
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Headache or migraine
- Hot flushes
- Increased blood glucose level in diabetic patients
- Increased heart rate
- Palpitations
- Soreness of the bottom
- Sleepiness
- Temporary increase in blood pressure
- Temporary increase in liver enzymes
- Thirst
- Various salt (electrolyte) imbalances
- Weakness
Side effect of unknown frequency (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data)
- Oesophageal rupture due to vomiting
This list is not exhaustive, for full safety information please read the Patient Information Leaflet – UK | Ireland.
Reporting side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at www.mhra.gov.uk/
Side effects should also be reported to Medical Information at Norgine Pharmaceuticals Ltd on +44 (0) 1895 826606 or email: medinfo@norgine.com.