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How much does Plenvu cost without insurance?

There are ways to save on Plenvu if your insurance doesn’t cover it
Rosemary Black
By | Apr. 18, 2025 Medically reviewed by Karen Berger, Pharm.D.

Key takeaways

  • Plenvu, a bowel-cleansing prescription medication for colonoscopy prep, costs $204 without insurance, but discounts are available.

  • Some insurance plans and Medicare Part D may cover Plenvu. There are more affordable colon prep options as well.

  • SingleCare offers a prescription discount card that may lower the cost of Plenvu to as low as $143 at participating pharmacies.

In this article:

Plenvu (polyethylene glycol with electrolytes) is a prescription bowel preparation solution used to clean the colon before a colonoscopy. A clean colon improves visibility during the procedure and helps detect abnormalities like ulcers and polyps. 

How much does Plenvu cost without insurance?

The average cash price of Plenvu is typically about $204 per two-dose box. Plenvu is usually administered as a two-day regimen: one dose the evening before the colonoscopy and another the morning of the procedure. 

“Alternatively, a one-day regimen may be used,” says Colin Sirard, Pharm.D., RPh, of Walgreens Community Pharmacy. “Unlike traditional prep solutions that require drinking up to 4 liters, Plenvu requires only 1 liter, which may be easier to tolerate,” Dr. Sirard says.

The price of Plenvu is the same whether you’re prescribed the one-day or two-day regimen. Your out-of-pocket price for Plenvu will depend on whether you use coupons or discounts and which pharmacy you use.  

Plenvu Dose 1 vs. Dose 2

Two doses of Plenvu are required for a complete colonoscopy preparation. The time interval between the two doses will depend upon whether you are doing the two-day split dosage schedule (which is most commonly prescribed) or the one-day morning dosage schedule:

  • The two-day split dosage schedule involves taking the first dose in the evening before the colonoscopy and the second dose in the morning of the day of the colonoscopy.  
  • The one-day morning dosage schedule involves taking both doses during the morning of the colonoscopy, with a minimum of 2 hours between the start of the first dose and the start of the second dose. Your healthcare provider will tell you whether you will be on the two-day or one-day schedule.

A box of Plenvu includes three pouches: 

  • Dose 1, which contains 100 grams of polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350, 9 grams of sodium sulfate, 2 grams of sodium chloride, and 1 gram of potassium chloride
  • Dose 2 Pouch A, which contains 40 grams of PEG 3350, 3.2 grams of sodium chloride, and 1.2 grams of potassium chloride
  • Dose 2 Pouch B, which contains 48.11 grams of sodium ascorbate and 7.54 grams of ascorbic acid

Plenvu preparation

To prepare Dose 1 of Plenvu, mix the pouch in the container provided with at least 16 ounces of water. Drink it slowly, but be sure to finish it within 30 minutes. Then, fill the same container with at least 16 ounces of clear liquid, like water or lemonade, and finish that within 30 minutes. 

For Dose 2 (pouches A and B), you will follow the same steps that you did with the Pouch labeled Dose 1, with Pouch A and Pouch B being taken together. When you drink the second dose of Plenvu will depend upon your healthcare provider’s instructions.

There are a couple of ways to make Plenvu more palatable. “After mixing up the solution, you can refrigerate it to improve the taste,” Dr. Sirard says. But once mixed, Plenvu must be taken within 24 hours. Dr. Sirard also advises drinking it through a straw to bypass the taste buds.

“If you get nauseated, you can slow down how fast you are drinking the solution,” says Sheila Rustgi, MD, a gastroenterologist at ColumbiaDoctors Midtown in New York City. “Follow your doctor’s instructions as best you can, and if you have questions, ask. The endoscopy staff may have tips and tricks that make the process easier. In the end, you and your care team all share the goal of allowing the doctor to do a thorough exam.”

Is there a generic for Plenvu?

There is currently no generic version available for Plenvu. “Plenvu is currently protected by multiple patents, which makes it difficult to tell when a generic form might be available,” Dr. Sirard says. “As of now, there is no specific information available regarding ongoing patent disputes or challenges for Plenvu.”

Is Plenvu covered by insurance?

The average copay for Plenvu may vary depending on what type of insurance plan you have and your level of coverage. The best way to find out is to call your insurance company and ask whether it is covered under your plan.

Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), colonoscopies may be classified as necessary preventive treatments. In fact, all Marketplace health plans, as well as many other plans, must cover colorectal cancer screening without charging you a copayment, even if you have not met your yearly deductible. But not all the associated medications are free. If you have Medicaid, Plenvu may not be covered.

If you have a Medicare Part D plan that doesn’t cover Plenvu, the Medicare Part D Coupon Program, sponsored by Salix Pharmaceuticals, may help reduce your out-of-pocket cost. In order to be eligible, your copay has to be over $60, and you need to opt out of using your Medicare Part D prescription benefit.

Plenvu vs. other colonoscopy prep kits

There are various kinds of colonoscopy prep kits on the market, and your healthcare provider will decide which one is best for you.

The standard method for colonoscopy is to drink up to 4 liters of a prescribed drink solution and water. These traditional preps are polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based. PEG is an osmotic laxative, so it draws water from the body into the stool. PEG-based preparations include GoLYTELY and MoviPrep. They may taste rather salty and usually take one to three hours to kick in. Sulfate-free PEG preps, which taste less salty, include NuLYTELY and TriLyte. There are also some “lower-volume” colonoscopy preparations. These saline-based formulas contain sodium phosphate as the primary osmotic agent. These include SUPREP, Clenpiq, and Sutab (the tablet form).

Plenvu is a low-volume (1 liter) polyethylene glycol (PEG) plus ascorbate-based bowel preparation. In a retrospective study that compared Plenvu and Moviprep, a 2-liter PEG preparation that is consumed in two doses, Plenvu proved to be a more effective bowel preparation agent. The article about the study called Plenvu effective, easier to take than Moviprep, and slightly less costly.

“Your healthcare provider typically selects the bowel prep based on factors such as medical history, prior tolerance, effectiveness, and insurance coverage,” Dr. Sirard says. “But patients may choose to inquire about alternatives and discuss preferences such as taste, volume, and administration regimens.”
Drug name Price without insurance of brand-name drug   SingleCare price Savings options
Plenvu $204 per box of brand-name Plenvu $143 per box of brand-name Plenvu See latest prices
Golytely (Peg-3350/Electrolytes) $41 per 4,000 mL bottle of brand-name Golytely $26 per 4,000 mL bottle of brand-name Golytely;

$14 per 4,000 mL bottle of generic Peg-3350/Electrolytes

 See latest prices
Moviprep (Peg-Kcl-Nacl-Nasulf-Na Asc-C) $181 per box of brand-name Moviprep $125 per box of brand-name Moviprep;

$59 per box of generic PEG-KCl-NaCl-NaSulf-Na Asc-C

 See latest prices
Suprep (Na Sulfate-K Sulfate-Mg Sulf) $161 per prep kit of brand-name Suprep $119 per prep kit of brand-name Suprep;

$41 per prep kit of generic Na Sulfate-K Sulfate-Mg Sulf

 See latest prices
Clenpiq $243 per box of 2, 175 mL bottles of brand-name Clenpiq  $150 per box of 2, 175 mL bottles of brand-name Clenpiq  See latest prices
Sutab $240 per box of 2, 12-tablet bottles of brand-name Sutab $167 per box of 2, 12-tablet bottles of brand-name Sutab See latest prices

How to get Plenvu without insurance

Paying for brand-name medications like Plenvu without insurance is challenging for the average person. There are some alternatives to paying full price for your Plenvu prescription when you don’t have insurance. Patient assistance programs and manufacturer coupons may be available. While not everyone is eligible for these discounts, there are additional ways to save money on Plenvu when you don’t have insurance.

You can save money on your Plenvu prescription with the SingleCare app or a SingleCare prescription discount card. You can then email, text, or print your card (or just take a screenshot of it) and show it to your pharmacist to get your special price. With a SingleCare Plenvu coupon, you could pay $143 per box instead of $204. You can use your SingleCare card if you have insurance, but you can’t use your SingleCare card and insurance together. 

The manufacturer of Plenvu also offers a copay assistance card for people with commercial health insurance. Download it and show it to your pharmacist when picking up your prescription to see how much you can save. Your discount will depend on your insurance plan and type of coverage.

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