PURCHASE IN ADVANCE

  • One 238 gm bottle and 119 gm of Miralax (or Glycolax) -no prescription needed
  • One 10 Oz Magnesium Citrate bottle
  • Three 32 ounce bottles of a sports drink (examples include Powerade, Gatorade, sugar-free Powerade, sugar-free Gatorade, Crystal Light, iced tea)-Recommended flavor lemon-lime
  • Please do not purchase red or purple sports drinks


SEVEN DAYS BEFORE COLONOSCOPY

  • Stop all fiber supplements and medications containing iron, including multivitamins.
  • You may have to stop certain medications. Talk with your prescribing physician and let them know you are getting a colonoscopy.

Diet Modifications

  • DO NOT eat any solid food starting 2 days before your colonoscopy
  • Please have a clear liquid diet and avoid all liquids that are red or purple. Also, avoid all dairy products.
  • A clear liquid diet may include:

Soup: Clear broths such as chicken, vegetable, beef consommé. These broths should not have noodles or solid food in them.

Juice: Apple, limeade, white cranberry, white grape

Beverages: Tea (please do not add milk), coffee (please do not add milk), soda, Gatorade (or other sports drinks), water, vitamin water(or other similar drinks)

Desserts: Jello (no red or purple), Italian ices, popsicles, hard candies


Prep Instructions

TWO DAYS BEFORE YOUR COLONOSCOPY

  • At 5 PM, drink the bottle of Magnesium Citrate and three 8 to 10 oz. glasses of water
  • Expect to move your bowels at least 5-10 times, although some people do not have multiple bowel movements after this initial dose of preparation. It usually takes about 30-60 minutes after drinking the solution to begin having bowel movements.  You may notice some bloating or cramping at the beginning of the preparation, but this will usually improve once the bowel movements begin. 

ONE DAY BEFORE YOUR COLONOSCOPY

  • Mix the entire 238-gram bottle of Miralax with 64 ounces of Gatorade, Powerade, or Crystal Light in a large pitcher. You may use any other clear liquid you choose as well. Stir. We recommend chilling the mixture. You may add ice.
  • At approximately 5 PM, start drinking your chilled Miralax mixture. DRINK UNTIL FINISHED
  • Expect to move your bowels at least 5-10 times, although some people do not have multiple bowel movements after this initial dose of the preparation. It usually takes about 30-60 minutes after drinking the Miralax solution to begin having bowel movements.
  • You may notice some bloating or cramping at the beginning of the preparation, but this will usually improve once the bowel movements begin.
  • DO NOT EAT OR DRINK ANYTHING AFTER 11 PM THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR COLONOSCOPY


DAY OF COLONOSCOPY

  • 6 hours before your procedure, mix the entire 119-gram bottle of Miralax with 32 ounces of Gatorade, Powerade, or Crystal Light in a large pitcher. You may use any other clear liquid you choose as well. Stir. DRINK UNTIL FINISHED 
  • Bowel movements should resume within 30 minutes to one hour. Expect to move your bowels at least 10-15 times.
  • By the end of your preparation, your stool should become a clear, yellow-tinged fluid. If the stool coming out is not clear, please drink an additional 1-liter of water or another clear fluid approximately 3 ½ hours prior to your procedure time.


HOW DO I KNOW IF MY PREP IS ADEQUATE?

The stool should be watery in consistency and should be a clear, yellow-tinged fluid without stool particles. Digestive secretions will continue to “tint” the stool yellow. If you are concerned that there are still stool particles present, you can self-administer one or two saline enema laxatives (these are available in pharmacies without prescription as 4.5 fluid ounce enemas) prior to leaving home for the procedure. If your prep is inadequate, the physician may not be able to visualize the entire colon adequately.

  • Make sure you know where your procedure will be performed.
  • Please arrive 1 hour in advance of your scheduled procedure time to allow time to complete the necessary paperwork.
  • Please bring a photo ID.
  • Please bring a current insurance card, if applicable.
  • If for any reason you need to cancel your procedure, please call your doctor at the number provided to you. You must call at least 48 hours in advance to allow other patients to be scheduled for procedures.