Colonoscopy Preparation
Colonoscopy examination requires a bowel prep prior to the procedure. It’s very important to have a clean colon, without retained stool, to ensure the best examination results. By the end of your bowel prep, your stool should be a clear or yellow liquid. If it is still brown, the doctor may not be able to see your colon clearly, and your procedure might need to be rescheduled.
We ask that you avoid traveling out of town for 2 days after your colonoscopy.
Read and follow the instructions below to prepare for your procedure or download a PDF copy.
Important: If you have been instructed by your provider to follow an extended prep, one different than the downloadable prep instructions, or directions on this page, please select the prep document your provider indicated below and follow those directions instead of the downloadable prep instructions above or the directions on this webpage. If you have any questions, please call our office.
Special Instructions
- If you take a GLP-1 medicine (like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, or similar), do NOT take it for 7 days before your procedure. Call us if you took any during this time.
- If you have diabetes, call your primary care doctor to ask if you need to adjust your diabetes medicine before and on the day of your procedure. Check your blood sugar often during this time.
- If you take blood thinner medicine, keep taking it unless your doctor tells you to stop or change your dose. Small polyps can usually be removed, and biopsies (removing small pieces of tissue to test) can usually be done safely while you are taking blood thinners. If a large polyp is found when you are taking blood thinners, you may need to have the procedure done again when you are no longer taking blood thinners, as directed by your doctor.
- If you have a heart defibrillator, call us right away. Your procedure must be scheduled in a hospital.
7 Days Before Your Procedure
- Buy these items:
- Prescription for your bowel prep product from your pharmacy (If you haven’t received a prescription, call our office right away.)
- Anti-gas tablets with simethicone (like Gas-X) – at least 4 tablets
- Laxative tablets (Bisacodyl) – at least 2 tablets
- Arrange for a responsible adult to take you to and from your procedure, sign you out, and care for you afterward. This is required. If we cannot confirm your responsible adult when you arrive, we will not provide sedation and may reschedule your procedure. For your safety, taxi, Uber, or public transportation may only be used if your responsible adult is with you.
- Stop eating raw vegetables, lettuce, nuts, red liquids, and foods with small seeds or corn until after your procedure or otherwise instructed by your doctor.
- Stop taking iron (including medicines or multivitamins with iron), fiber supplements (like Metamucil, Benefiber, or Fibersure), and herbal supplements until after your procedure or otherwise instructed by your doctor.
Add reminders or alarms on your cell phone to help remember each step throughout your preparation.
Remember, millions of Americans undergo colonoscopy every year. YOU CAN DO THIS!
Day Before Your Procedure
- Start a clear liquid diet. Have only clear liquids all day (like water, chicken broth, apple juice, popsicles, Jell-O, coffee, or soda). DO NOT have alcohol, creamers, or anything red. DO NOT eat any solid food.
- Confirm your responsible adult will go with you to your procedure and care for you afterward.
- If using GaviLyte-N or an equivalent generic 4 L PEG solution your pharmacy may dispense; mix all of the solution with water per product instructions and place in refrigerator.
- 4 p.m. – Take 2 laxative (Bisacodyl) tablets.
- 5 p.m. – Begin “Step 1” of prescribed bowel prep product instructions. Find the instructions on the next page. Follow only the instructions for the specific bowel prep product you were prescribed. Please find your specific bowel preparation product below under Bowel Preparation Instructions by Specific Product and follow the instructions for “Step 2” instead of the instructions on the package.
- 9 p.m. – Take 2 anti-gas tablets.
- Hydrate! Keep drinking water and clear liquids.
Use hard candies to suck on during your bowel preparation.
Use a straw when consuming your bowel preparation.
If you become nauseated or feel chilled during your bowel prep, stop the prep for at least 30 minutes before resuming.
Day of Your Procedure
- For your safety, we recommend you do not smoke or vape, use marijuana or illicit drugs, or chew tobacco.
- Continue to hydrate! Keep drinking water and clear liquids.
- Patients meeting our policy requirements must take a urine pregnancy test before procedures.
- 6 hours before your arrival time – Begin “Step 2” of your prescribed bowel prep under Bowel Preparation Instructions by Specific Product. You must finish your prescribed bowel prep at least 4 hours before arrival time. Follow only the instructions for the specific bowel prep product you were prescribed.
- After completing “Step 2” and at least 4 hours before arrival time – Take 2 anti-gas tablets.
- 4 hours before arrival time – Take your regular medicines with small sips of water.
- 4 hours before arrival time – STOP drinking water and clear liquids. DO NOT have anything by mouth before your arrival time. DO NOT eat, drink, chew gum, suck on hard candy, or use lozenges. If you do, your procedure will be delayed or canceled.
- 1 hour before procedure time – Arrive at the front desk where you will have your procedure so we can get you ready. Bring your insurance card, a photo ID, and a list of your medicines. Leave valuables at home (like cash, watch, and jewelry). Do not wear contact lenses.
Your stool should be liquid, either clear or yellow in color, after completing your bowel preparation.
Bowel Preparation Instructions by Specific Product
Please find your specific bowel prep product from the list below and follow these instructions instead of the instructions on the package. Follow only the instructions for the prep you were prescribed. Remember! You will need to complete your bowel prep 4 hours prior to your arrival time.
QUESTIONS?
Call our office during regular business hours (8:00am to 4:30pm) at 614-754-5500.
GaviLyte-N or equivalent generic 4 L PEG solution
Step 1: At 5 p.m. – Drink one 8 oz glass of the prep solution every 15 minutes and stop once you have finished half of the bottle (2 L). Place remainder prep in refrigerator for the next morning.
Step 2: Drink an 8 oz glass of the prep solution every 15 minutes until you have finished all the prep solution.
Moviprep 2 L PEG solution
Step 1: At 5 p.m. – Mix the first half of the prep solution with water per product instructions. The Moviprep container is divided by 4 marks. Drink the prep solution down to the next mark every 15 minutes until the full 1 L container is complete.
Step 2: Repeat all of “Step 1” with the second half of prep solution.
Suprep or Plenvu
Step 1: At 5 p.m. – Mix the first half of the prep solution with water per product instructions. Drink the entire 16 oz container of prep solution. Over the next 1 hour, drink 2 more 16 oz cups of water.
Step 2: Repeat all of “Step 1” with the second half of prep solution.
Clenpiq
This prep must be approved by your procedure physician. DO NOT use if you have Congestive Heart Failure or kidney disease. DO NOT dilute, refrigerate, or freeze this prep.
Step 1: Between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. – Drink all of 1 of the 2 bottles. Follow with at least 5 glasses of 8 fl oz clear liquids. Finish additional liquids over the next 5 hours.
Step 2: Drink the entire second bottle. Follow with at least 4 glasses of 8 fl oz clear liquids.
Sutab
This prep must be approved by your procedure physician.
Step 1: At 5 p.m. – Open one bottle of 12 tablets. Fill the provided cup with water to the 16 oz fill line. Swallow each tablet with a sip of water. Finish the remaining water over the next 15-20 minutes. 1 hour after the last tablet is ingested – Drink a second 16 oz container of water. 30 minutes after finishing the second container of water – Drink a third 16 oz container of water.
Step 2: Repeat all of “Step 1” with the other bottle of 12 tablets.
Suflave
If nausea, bloating, or abdominal cramping occurs, pause or slow down the rate of drinking the solution and additional water until the symptoms diminish.
Step 1: 5 p.m. – Mix the first bottle of prep solution with water per product instructions. Drink 8 fl oz of the solution every 15 minutes until the bottle is empty. Drink an additional 16 fl oz of water.
Step 2: Repeat all of “Step 1” with the second dose.
Colonoscopy Prep FAQs
Our aim is to have your procedure start at the procedure time, which means you need to be fully prepared by that time. There are several things that need done before your procedure starts including checking-in, signing consent forms, if applicable taking a pregnancy test, changing clothes, starting the IV, and more. Arriving an hour early helps your procedure start on-time and for you to feel comfortable.
Your colon needs to be clean to ensure the best examination results, during which polyps and cancerous growths may be able to be detected and removed.
Examples of clear liquids include water, sport drinks, lemonade, tea, coffee, popsicles, chicken broth, soft drinks, jello, apple juice, and white grape juice.
Please avoid red liquids. Liquids that are not considered clear are red sports drinks, red popsicles, grape juice, orange juice, red jello, and yogurt.
