Alternatives to Plenvu If You Can't Fill Your Prescription

Can't Find Plenvu? Here Are Your Best Alternatives

Your colonoscopy is scheduled, but your pharmacy can't get Plenvu in time. Don't reschedule your procedure — there are several effective alternatives that your doctor can prescribe instead. In this guide, we'll cover what Plenvu is, how it works, and the best alternative bowel preps available in 2026.

What Is Plenvu?

Plenvu is a prescription bowel cleansing preparation made by Salix Pharmaceuticals (Bausch Health). It contains polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350, sodium ascorbate, sodium sulfate, ascorbic acid, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride in an oral powder for reconstitution.

It was FDA-approved in 2018 as the first and only 1-liter PEG-based colonoscopy prep. Before Plenvu, most PEG preps required patients to drink 2 to 4 liters of solution. Plenvu's smaller volume — combined with mango and fruit punch flavoring — made it a popular choice for patients and doctors alike.

How Does Plenvu Work?

Plenvu is an osmotic laxative. The PEG 3350 and electrolyte components draw water into your colon through osmosis, creating a flushing effect that cleanses the bowel. The sodium sulfate and ascorbic acid/sodium ascorbate provide additional osmotic action.

You take Plenvu in two doses — Dose 1 the evening before your colonoscopy and Dose 2 early the next morning. Each dose is mixed with 16 ounces of water, followed by 16 ounces of clear liquids. For more details, read our guide on how Plenvu works.

Alternative 1: Suprep Bowel Prep Kit

What It Is

Suprep is a sulfate-based osmotic bowel prep made by Braintree Laboratories. It contains sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, and magnesium sulfate in a berry-flavored liquid solution.

How It Compares to Plenvu

• Volume: Two 6-ounce bottles, each diluted with water to 16 ounces (so you drink about 32 oz total, plus additional water). Slightly more volume than Plenvu but still considered low-volume.
• Taste: Berry flavored. Some patients find it more palatable than PEG-based preps, while others find the sulfate taste challenging.
• Effectiveness: Comparable bowel cleansing to Plenvu in clinical studies.
• Cost: Cash price is approximately $150 to $200. Generic versions are not yet available.

Who It's Best For

Patients who want a low-volume, non-PEG option. Talk to your doctor if you have kidney problems, as the magnesium and sulfate content requires caution in patients with renal impairment.

Alternative 2: Sutab

What It Is

Sutab is a tablet-based colonoscopy prep made by Sebela Pharmaceuticals. It contains sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and potassium chloride in tablet form.

How It Compares to Plenvu

• Form: Tablets instead of a liquid solution — a major advantage for patients who struggle with drinking prep solutions.
• How to take: Two doses of 12 tablets each, taken with water. You swallow the tablets with 16 ounces of water, then drink an additional 16 ounces of water over the next 30 minutes.
• Taste: No unpleasant liquid taste since you're swallowing tablets.
• Effectiveness: FDA-approved and clinically proven for adequate bowel cleansing.
• Cost: Cash price ranges from approximately $75 to $150.

Who It's Best For

Patients who hate the taste of liquid preps. Sutab is an excellent option for anyone who has had trouble completing a liquid-based prep in the past.

Alternative 3: GoLYTELY

What It Is

GoLYTELY is the original PEG-electrolyte bowel prep and has been used for decades. It contains polyethylene glycol 3350 with electrolytes (sodium sulfate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium chloride, and potassium chloride).

How It Compares to Plenvu

• Volume: 4 liters — significantly more than Plenvu's 1-liter total. This is the biggest drawback.
• Cost: Much cheaper, especially in generic form. Generic GoLYTELY can cost as little as $10 to $30.
• Availability: Widely available at virtually every pharmacy. If you can't find Plenvu, you can almost certainly find GoLYTELY.
• Effectiveness: Proven effective for bowel cleansing over decades of use.

Who It's Best For

Patients who need an affordable, readily available option and don't mind the higher volume. It's also a good fallback when other preps are unavailable.

Alternative 4: Clenpiq

What It Is

Clenpiq is an ultra-low-volume colonoscopy prep made by Ferring Pharmaceuticals. It contains sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and anhydrous citric acid in a cranberry-flavored ready-to-drink solution.

How It Compares to Plenvu

• Volume: Two 5.4-ounce doses — the lowest volume of any liquid prep available. Even less than Plenvu.
• Mechanism: Combines stimulant laxative (sodium picosulfate) with osmotic action (magnesium citrate), which is a different approach than Plenvu's PEG-based mechanism.
• Taste: Cranberry flavored. Many patients find it relatively tolerable.
• Cost: Cash price is approximately $150 to $250.

Who It's Best For

Patients who want the absolute lowest volume of liquid to drink. Note that Clenpiq should not be used in patients with severe kidney problems due to its magnesium content.

Quick Comparison Table

Here's a summary to help you and your doctor decide:

• Plenvu: 1-liter PEG prep, $150-$210, mango/fruit punch flavored, no generic
• Suprep: Low-volume sulfate prep, $150-$200, berry flavored, no generic
• Sutab: Tablet prep (no liquid solution), $75-$150, no taste issues
• GoLYTELY: 4-liter PEG prep, $10-$30 generic, widely available
• Clenpiq: Ultra-low volume, $150-$250, cranberry flavored

Final Thoughts

If you can't find Plenvu, don't postpone your colonoscopy. Talk to your doctor about switching to one of these alternatives. Each has its own advantages, and your doctor can help you choose the best option based on your health history, preferences, and what's available at your pharmacy.

Want to try finding Plenvu first? Use Medfinder to check real-time availability at pharmacies near you. And for help with costs, check out our guide on saving money on Plenvu.