Safety Tips
- The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has a black box (safety alert) warning for any over-the-counter oral sodium phosphate solution (such as Fleet’s Phospha Soda, Visicol and OsmoPrep). The solution, often given by mouth to clean the entire colon prior to a colonoscopy, has the risk of causing acute kidney injury in certain persons. Thus sodium phosphate solution can only be given with a doctor’s prescription.
- The FDA warning does not apply to over-the-counter products used as laxatives, such as Golytely®, Colyte®, Nulytely®, Trilyte, and Half-lytely.
- Always wear gloves when giving an enema to prevent transfer of germs.
- Never force the tip of an enema into a person’s rectum.
- Some people have trouble holding enema fluid because of a weakness in the rectum. In this case do not give the enema with the person sitting on the toilet. There is a risk of injuring the wall of the rectum with the enema tip.
- Always give an enema slowly to minimize cramping.