Before Your Colonoscopy

This is not a substitute for direct care by YOUR doctor. Confirm with your doctor before doing any of the following.

Colonoscopy Bowel Preparation

• Preparation quality is your responsibility—it is critical that you follow these instructions. Failure to take the prep as indicated below may result in a poorly cleansed colon and possible cancellation or rescheduling of procedure. 

Medication Instructions

• If you take a beta blocker, you can take that the day of surgery with a sip of water  
•  If you are on a blood thinner (or you are told to take aspirin by your doctor), this is typically stopped 1 to 7 days before surgery. PLEASE DISCUSS THIS WITH YOUR DOCTOR before your colonoscopy.

Three Days Before Your Colonoscopy 

• Take a dose of Milk of Magnesia at bedtime.
• Follow a soft diet* 

Two Days Before Your Colonoscopy 

• Take a dose of Milk of Magnesia at bedtime.

On the Day Before Your Colonoscopy

• CLEAR LIQUIDS** starting at 10 am.

Below are different "prep" options

Suprep Prep

• 4 pm: Take 4 tablets of Dulcolax (oral or rectal)
• 6 pm: 1st Suprep:
  1. Pour one 6-ounce bottle of SUPREP liquid into the mixing container
  2. Add cool water to the 16-ounce line on the container and mix
  3. Drink all the liquid in the container
  4. Drink two more 16-ounce glasses of water over the next hour

• 11 pm: 2nd Suprep: Repeat steps 1-4 as above

MiraLAX prep

• 10 am: Drink only CLEAR LIQUIDS starting now
• 4 pm: Take 4 tablets of Dulcolax (oral or rectal)
• 6 pm: Drink the full 238g bottle of Miralax. Mix the bottle with 64 ounces of liquid (you can use Gatorade). You can mix it all ahead of time or do it as your go along. You can mix and match liquids as you would like as long as they are clear and not red. You need to finish all of the Miralax by 11pm.

"Split Prep" option

• This options splits drinking the MiraLAX into half at night and half in the morning. It has been shown to cleanse the bowel better.
• You need to drink the entire bottle of MiraLAX by three hours before the procedure.
• Make sure your doctor approves this preparation option as some facilities will not allow you to continue drinking this close to your procedure time.

Two Day prep

• If you have a history of significant constipation or incomplete bowel preparation in the past, a two-day prep may be a good option for you.
• This means you start a clear liquid only diet two days before your procedure.
• Typically, the MiraLAX is drank slowly over the full two days, completing it on the morning of the procedure - at least 3!! hours before your procedure. 
• You will also take 4 dulcolax tablets during the evening before your procedure.

HELPFUL HINTS: You may add crystal light lemonade to the laxative prep. We recommend adding it one glass at a time. It is better to drink the prep quickly-try using a straw. You may suck on hard candy or chew gum between glasses.

* Soft Diet: legumes/beans, peas, carrots, corn, popcorn, tomatoes, whole grain bread, or nuts for three days before your colonoscopy. Small seeds can interfere with the doctor’s ability to suction remaining fluid from the colon.

** Clear Liquids: water Clear fruit juice without pulp (apple, white grape, white cranberry) Lemonade (without pulp) Clear broth Coffee or tea (without cream) Sports drink (not red, purple or blue); brands include Gatorade, Powerade, All Sport, etc. Carbonated soft drinks (7UP, sprite) Kool-aid or similar drink (not red, purple or blue) Plain jello (without added fruit, not red, purple or blue) Popsicles (not red, purple or blue)