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CompletedNCT01541683Updated Aug 7, 2013

The Effect of Mentholyptus Drops on the Palatability of PEG-Electrolyte Solution

An interventional study of PEG solution (Fortrans®) and Mentholyptus Drops (Halls®) and PEG solution (Fortrans®) in Colon Cancer, sponsored by American University of Beirut Medical Center. Completed at 1 site in Lebanon. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2013-08-07.

Sponsored by American University of Beirut Medical Center · Not applicable and Interventional

Phase
Not applicable
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
99
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
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Study summary

The investigators aim is to study the efficacy of mentholyptus drops in improving the palatability of PEG-electrolyte solution used in bowel cleansing for colonoscopy. The study is a randomized controlled trial which will include patients undergoing elective colonoscopy at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. Patients will be randomized into one of two study arms using a computer generated randomization list. Patients assigned to the intervention arm will be asked to have candy (Halls®) during the whole 2 hours period while drinking the PEG solution unlike the control arm patients who will only receive the PEG solution. All patients will then be evaluated for the tolerability of the preparation while taking into account the palatability of the solution as main outcome and the remaining volume of the PEG solution and side effects as secondary outcomes.

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Conditions studied

  • Colon Cancer

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Keywords

  • PEG-electrolyte solution
  • bowel cleansing
  • Mentholyptus drops
  • Palatability
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In context

Colonic Neoplasms

1,432 studies on the registry are indexed under Colonic Neoplasms; 357 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 99 is close to the median of 90 across 1,034 interventional studies indexed under Colonic Neoplasms.

Browse Colonic Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

American University of Beirut Medical Center is the lead sponsor of 152 studies on the registry; 27 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

  • elective colonoscopy
  • consent to the study

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • pregnant or lactating women
  • age less than 18 years
  • significant gastroparesis
  • gastric outlet obstruction
  • ileus
  • known or suspected bowel obstruction or perforation
  • phenylketonuria
  • glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency
  • severe chronic renal failure (creatinine clearance \<30 mL/minute)
  • severe congestive heart failure (NYHA class III or IV)
  • dehydration
  • severe acute inflammatory disease
  • compromised swallowing reflex or mental status
  • uncontrolled hypertension (systolic blood pressure ≥170 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure ≥100 mm Hg)
  • toxic colitis or megacolon
  • previous colonoscopy within the last 5 years
  • active Inflammatory bowel disease
  • previous colectomy or partial colectomy
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Study design

Phase
Not applicable
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
99 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Halls

    every patient will drink 4 Liters of PEG solution (FORTRANS®) split into 2 days with sugar-free mentholyptus drops (2 L at 7-9 pm on the day prior to the colonoscopy with Halls®, and 2 L on the day of the colonoscopy to be completed a minimum of 1.5 hours before the procedure with Halls®).

    Other: PEG solution (Fortrans®) and Mentholyptus Drops (Halls®)

  • Other
    no Halls

    Every patient will drink 4 liters of PEG solution (FORTRANS®) split into 2 days (2 L at 7-9 pm on the day prior to the colonoscopy, and 2 L on the day of the colonoscopy to be completed a minimum of 1.5 hours before the procedure)

    Other: PEG solution (Fortrans®)

Interventions

  • OtherPEG solution (Fortrans®) and Mentholyptus Drops (Halls®)

    Patients will be instructed to drink 4 Liters of PEG solution (FORTRANS®) split into 2 days while sucking on sugar-free mentholyptus drops (2 L at 7-9 pm on the day prior to the colonoscopy while continuously sucking on Halls®, and 2 L on the day of the colonoscopy to be completed a minimum of 1.5 hours before the procedure while continuously sucking on Halls®)

  • OtherPEG solution (Fortrans®)

    4 liters of PEG solution (FORTRANS®) split into 2 days (2 L at 7-9 pm on the day prior to the colonoscopy, and 2 L on the day of the colonoscopy to be completed a minimum of 1.5 hours before the procedure)

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. measurement of Palatability of the PEG-electrolyte solution

    patients will be asked to assess the palatability of the colon preparation solution (Fortrans®) by giving it a score on a scale from 1 to 5 with 1 being disgusting and 5 being tasty after drinking the whole solution and immediately prior to the colonoscopy

    Time frame: 1.5 hours after drinking the solution

Secondary outcomes

  1. volume remaining of the colon preparation solution

    Patients will be asked to bring with them to the endoscopy suit the volume remaining, if any, of the colon preparation solution that they were not able to drink. The volume remaining will be measured by the research fellow using a graduated cylinder.

    Time frame: 1.5 hours after drinking the solution

  2. Side effects

    number of patients who experienced nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal cramps or headaches while drinking the solution.

    Time frame: 1.5 hours after drinking the solution

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Study locations

1 site
  • American University of Beirut Medical Center
    Beirut, 1107 2020, Lebanon
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References and documents

Publications

  • Sharara AI, El-Halabi MM, Abou Fadel CG, Sarkis FS. Sugar-free menthol candy drops improve the palatability and bowel cleansing effect of polyethylene glycol electrolyte solution. Gastrointest Endosc. 2013 Dec;78(6):886-891. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2013.05.015. Epub 2013 Jun 13. PubMed 23769143 ↗
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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 7, 2013, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01541683
Lead sponsor
American University of Beirut Medical Center
Responsible party
Ala'a Sharara (Head and Professor, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, American University of Beirut Medical Center) — Principal investigator
First posted
Mar 1, 2012
Start date
Jan 2012
Primary completion
Jun 2013
Completion
Jul 2013
Last update
Aug 7, 2013

Study contacts

Ala I Sharara, MD
principal investigator · American University of Beirut Medical Center

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Aug 2013. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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