Colonoscopy Patient Instructions

Colonoscopy Pre Procedure Instructions

Please follow the instructions below prior to your colonoscopy.  Also be sure to follow the instructions for your specific bowel preparation prescribed by your physician.

Special Instructions if you take Diabetes or Blood Thinning Medications:

Please contact the provider who manages these before your procedure and ask them whether you should stop taking them before the procedure and for how long prior. 

Our office has partnered with Gifthealth, a direct ship bowel prep service. Our providers opt for this service to ensure you receive your prep at the most affordable cost, and it will be conveniently shipped to your doorstep with free delivery.

Required procedure prescriptions

Eating and Drinking Instructions for ALL bowel preparations:
7 Days Before the Procedure

Medication restrictions – Please call the prescribing physician

  • Diabetics taking insulin: will need dose adjustment the day before the exam. Please ask for advice from the physician that prescribes your insulin. For diabetics only taking diabetic pills simply stop the pills the day before the procedure (see below).
  • DO NOT take Ozempic, Mounjaro, Wegovy, Trulicity, Semaglutide, Saxenda, Vitoza, Rybelus, Adlyxin, Byureon and Byetta. 1 week prior to procedure, this slows gastric motility and the effectiveness of the prep and increases risk of aspiration if food and liquids are still present in the stomach.
  • Blood thinners (antithrombotic agents) including: Coumadin (Warfarin), Plavix, Pradaxa, Xarelto, Eliquis, Brilinta and Effient: These can increase the risk of bleeding during and after endoscopic procedures to a varying degree. If you take a blood thinner, review our recommendations below for holding these medications prior to your procedure and confirm with your prescribing provider: Effient – 7 days; Coumadin (Warfarin), Plavix and Brilinta – 5 days; Pradaxa, Eliquis and Xarelto – 2 days; ** IF these medications are unable to be stopped, you need to call our office ASAP**
  • Aspirin does NOT need to be stopped.
  • Items to purchase.
    1. Fill the prescription for bowel prep and Ondansetron (anti-nausea medication).
    2. Any over-the-counter hemorrhoid ointment for anal discomfort (A & D ointment or any diaper cream). Diet restrictions No seeds, nuts, popcorn or peels from fruits and vegetables. Examples but not limited to: no peels and seeds from apple, potatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, tomatoes, no berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries), no grapes or bananas etc.
1 Day Before Your Procedure:
  • Do not eat solid foods
  • Drink only “clear” liquids.  These include water, clear fat-free broth, gelatin, clear fruit juice such as apple or white grape.  You may have ice pops, carbonated beverages, sports drinks, tea, and coffee (you may add sugar)
  • Do not eat or drink dairy products
Day of your Procedure:
  • Do not eat solid foods.
  • Stop drinking clear liquids at least 4 hours prior to procedure time.
Medication Instructions:
  • If you take daily medication, you may take this with sips of water before your scheduled arrival time.
  • If you have diabetes or take blood thinners, follow instructions by the health care provider who manages those medications.

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  • Evening before your procedure between 4:00pm and 7:00pm

1. First dose, one large pouch

    • Take the Ondansetron (anti-nausea) 30 minutes prior to starting first dose.
    • Empty the contents of Dose 1 (only one large pouch) into provided container. Add cold water to the top line of the container (at least 16 ounces), mix with spoon or shake until completely dissolved. You can NOT add anything to the Plenvu solution.
    • Drink ALL the solution, this can be done gradually to decrease the risk of nausea.

2. Drink an additional 16 oz or more of a clear liquid of your choice.
3. This can be done gradually to decrease the risk of nausea.
4. Keep the container
5. You can continue the clear liquid diet after you finish the first dose of the prep.

  • The morning of the procedure 6 hours prior to your scheduled procedure time

1. Second dose, pouch A & B

    • Take the Ondansetron (anti-nausea) 30 minutes prior to starting second dose.
    • Empty contents of Dose 2 (packets A and B) into provided container. Add cold water to the top line of the container (at least 16 oz), mix with spoon or shake until completely dissolved. You can NOT add anything to the Plenvu solution.
    • Drink ALL the solution, this can be done gradually to decrease the risk of nausea.

2. Drink an additional 16 oz or more of clear liquids of your choice.
3. You may have clear liquids up to 4 hours of your scheduled procedure time, then nothing by mouth after that.

The directions on the Sutab box may differ from the directions below.  Follow these instructions.

  • Evening before your procedure (Start at 6:00 pm)

    1. Open the 1st bottle of tablets (12 count)

      • Take the Ondansetron (anti-nausea) 30 minutes prior to starting first dose.
      • Fill the provided container with 16-oz of water. 
      • Swallow 1 tablet every 1-2 minutes, flush with water.  You should finish all 12 tablets and 16-oz of water within 30 minutes.
      • You may consume additional water if needed.
      • Do NOT break or crush the tablets.

    2. Approximately 1 hour after taking the last tablet, fill the container with another 16-oz of water and drink over 30 minutes.

    3. Approximately 30 minutes after finishing the second container of water, fill the container again with 16-oz of water and drink over 30 minutes.

    4. Keep the container.

    5. Take 2 Dulcolax tablets at 9:00 pm.
  • ​Day of your procedure (Beginning 7 hours prior to scheduled procedure time, repeat steps 1-5 as above.)
    1. Open the 2nd bottle of tablets (12 count)
      • Fill the provided container with 16-oz of water. 
      • Swallow 1 tablet every 1-2 minutes, flush with water.  You should finish all 12 tablets and 16-oz of water within 30 minutes.
      • You may consume additional water if needed.
      • Do NOT break or crush the tablets.
      • You MUST complete consumption of all Sutab tablets and water 4 hours prior to your procedure.
    2. Four hours before you arrive to the office, stop drinking clear liquids.

Your physician may send your prescription for Sutab to Gifthealth Partners (staff will confirm with you).

The instructions on the Suprep box may differ from the directions in this section.  Follow these instructions.​

  • Evening before your procedure (Start at 6pm)

    1. Take the Ondansetron (anti-nausea) 30 minutes prior to starting first dose.

    2. Pour one bottle of solution into the mixing container.

    3. Add cold water or your choice of any berry flavored noncarbonated water to the 16-oz line on the container and mix.  Do NOT drink suprep without adding water.

    4. Drink all of the solution in the container.

    5. Over the next hour, drink two 16-oz containers (or more) of water.  This is important to help cleanse your colon and keep you hydrated.

  • Day of your procedure (6 hours prior to your scheduled procedure time)

    1. Take the Ondansetron (anti-nausea) 30 minutes prior to starting first dose.

    2. Pour the second bottle of Suprep into the mixing container.

    3. Add cold water or your choice of any berry flavored noncarbonated water to the 16-oz line on the container.

    4. Drink all of the solution in the container.

    5. Drink two 16-oz containers of water.

  • Four hours before you arrive to the office, stop drinking clear liquids.

The directions on the Clenpiq box may differ from the directions in this section.  Follow these instructions.

  • Two days prior to your procedure
    1. Take two (2) Dulcolax tablets before going to bed.
  • Evening before your procedure (Start at 6pm)

    1. Drink 1 bottle of Clenpiq.

    2. You will need to follow with at least 5 more 8 ounce glass of clear liquids, total of 40 ounces before bed.

  • Day of your procedure (Start at least 6 hours before you arrive to the office)

    1. Drink the second Clenpiq bottle, then drink at least four 8-oz cups of clear liquid or water.

  • Four hours before you arrive to the office, stop drinking clear liquids.

Golytely, PEG-3350, TriLyte, Nulytely, Golyte-C

Please note the directions on the prep box may differ from the directions on this page.  Follow these instructions

  • Prepare the Solution

    1. Dissolve the powder in water before drinking

    2. Fill the jug half way with lukewarm water.  Warm water dissolves the powder better than cold water.

    3. Shake the jug well to dissolve the powder.

    4. Add cold water to the fill line on the jug.  Again shake the jug well.  The full jug contains sixteen 8-oz cups.

    5. You may refrigerate the jug until you drink all of the solution.

    6. Do not mix more than 24 hours prior to your procedure time.

  • Evening before your procedure (Start at 6pm)

    1. Shake the jug of mixed solution well.

    2. Drink one 8-oz cup of the solution every 15 minutes for a total of 8 glasses. Do not sip, prep will not be effective.

    3. Continue to drink until 12 cups, or ¾ of the solution is drank. This will take 2 hours.

    4. Keep the remainder of the solution to drink the day of your procedure. You may refrigerate the solution.

  • Day of procedure (6 hours prior to your scheduled procedure time)

    1. Shake the jug of mixed solution well.

    2. Quickly drink one 8-oz cup of solution.

    3. Drink one 8-oz cup of the solution every 15 minutes for a total of 8 glasses. Do not sip, prep will not be effective.

  • Four hours prior to your procedure, stop drinking clear liquids.
  • Evening before your procedure between 4:00pm and 7:00pm

1. First dose

    • Take the Ondansetron (anti-nausea) 30 minutes prior to starting first dose.
    • Fill first provided bottle with either provided flavor packet (lemon lime flavor) or any water enhancers of your choice like Crystal Light, MiO or Water Drops.  Add lukewarm water to the top line of the container (at least 32 ounces), mix with spoon or shake until completely dissolved. You can mix a few hours prior to drinking and refrigerate to improve taste.
    • Drink ALL the solution, 8 ounces every 15 mins. This can be done gradually to decrease the risk of nausea.

2. Drink an additional 16 oz or more of a clear liquid of your choice.
3. This can be done gradually to decrease the risk of nausea.
4. You can continue the clear liquid diet after you finish the first dose of the prep.

  • The morning of the procedure 6 hours prior to your scheduled procedure time

1. Second dose

    • Take the Ondansetron (anti-nausea) 30 minutes prior to starting second dose.
    • Fill second provided bottle with either provided flavor packet (lemon lime flavor) or any water enhancers of your choice like Crystal Light, MiO or Water Drops. Add lukewarm water to the top line of the container (at least 32 ounces), mix with spoon or shake until completely dissolved. You can mix a few hours prior to drinking and refrigerate to improve taste.
    • Drink ALL the solution, this can be done gradually to decrease the risk of nausea.

2. Drink an additional 16 oz or more of clear liquids of your choice.
3. You may have clear liquids up to 4 hours of your scheduled procedure time, then nothing by mouth after that.

Cancellations:

If you need to cancel your procedure, please call at least 7 days prior to your scheduled procedure time. Failure to call 7 days prior to your scheduled procedure will result in a $350 cancellation fee.

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