Tolerability and patient acceptance of sodium phosphate tablets compared with 4-L PEG solution in colon cleansing : Combined results of 2 identically designed, randomized, controlled, parallel group, multicenter phase 3 trials

Goals: Evaluate patient tolerance and acceptance of a sodium phosphate (NaP) tablet purgative compared with a 4-L polyethylene glycol (PEG) solution. Background: Characteristics and side effects of bowel purgatives deter patients from undergoing screening colonoscopy. Published data demonstrated comparable bowel cleansing with NaP tablets and a 4-L PEG solution in 2 phase for 3 studies. This report presents data on patient tolerability and acceptance. Study: Two identically designed, randomized, investigator-blinded, and multicenter trials were performed. Tolerability and patient acceptance were based on purgative regimen compliance, incidence of gastrointestinal adverse events, and patient responses to questionnaires. Results: Eight hundred forty-five patients were assessed (420 and 425 in the tablet and PEG solution groups, respectively). Patient compliance with the tablet regimen was greater: 94% of patients took all the tablets compared with 57% completing the PEG solution regimen (P < 0.0001). Nausea, vomiting, and bloating occurred significantly less often in patients taking NaP tablets (P < 0.0001). Among patients taking tablets, 88.4% rated them "easy" or "slightly difficult" to take, compared with 60.6% of patients taking the PEG solution. The preparation's taste was rated "barely tolerable" or "not tolerable" by 1% of patients treated with NaP tablets and 23.6% treated with PEG solution. Drinking the required volume of clear liquid for the tablet or PEG preparation was rated "easy" or "slightly difficult" by 92.2% and 66.9% of patients, respectively. Almost all (90.7%) patients taking the tablets indicated they would take the same preparation in the future, compared with 67.1% of patients taking the PEG solution (P < 0.0001 for each comparison). Conclusions: Tolerability and patient acceptance of a NaP tablet purgative were superior to 4-L PEG solution.