Sodium picosulfate

Sodium picosulfate

Systematic (IUPAC) name
disodium (pyridin-2-ylmethylene)di-4,1-phenylene disulfate
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com	International Drug Names
Pregnancy cat.	?
Legal status	?
Routes	Oral
Identifiers
CAS number	10040-45-6 N
ATC code	A06AB08 A06AB58 (combinations)
PubChem	CID 68654
ChemSpider	61910 Y
UNII	LR57574HN8 N
Chemical data
Formula	C18H13NNa2O8S2
Mol. mass	481.409 g/mol
SMILES	eMolecules & PubChem
InChI InChI=1S/C18H15NO8S2.2Na/c20-28(21,22)26-15-8-4-13(5-9-15)18(17-3-1-2-12-19-17)14-6-10-16(11-7-14)27-29(23,24)25;;/h1-12,18H,(H,20,21,22)(H,23,24,25);;/q;2*+1/p-2 Y Key:GOZDTZWAMGHLDY-UHFFFAOYSA-L Y
N(what is this?)  (verify)

Sodium picosulfate (INN, also known as sodium picosulphate) is a contact laxative used as a treatment for constipation or to prepare the large bowel before colonoscopy or surgery. It is sold under the trade names " Sodipic" Picofast, Laxoberal, Laxoberon, Purg-Odan, Picolax, Picoprep, Guttalax and several others.

Effects

Orally administered sodium picosulfate is generally used for thorough evacuation of the bowel, usually for patients who are preparing to undergo a colonoscopy. It works very quickly, so access to a toilet at all times is recommended. It starts off by making bowel movements looser and more frequent, but within an hour or so of taking it the patient should experience diarrhea.

The most common side effects of picosulfate are abdominal cramps and diarrhea.

The use of sodium picosulfate has also been associated with certain electrolyte disturbances, such as hyponatremia and hypokalemia. Patients are often required to drink large amounts of clear fluids to restablish the electrolyte balance as well as rehydrate.