Bowel preparation before a colonoscopy actually starts days before, when you should stop taking certain medications or supplements. You need to follow the MoviPrep instructions and be prepared to drink a lot of liquid.
Key instructions
Transportation on the day of your exam
A responsible person MUST BE PRESENT with you at Check In before your colonoscopy and MUST REMAIN in the endoscopy area until you are discharged. You are not allowed to drive, take a taxi or bus, or leave the Endoscopy Center alone. If you do not have a responsible driver (family member or friend) with you to take you home, your exam cannot be done with sedation and will be cancelled.
Please bring a list of all of your current medications, including any over-the-counter medications, with you.
Medications
If you take insulin, medications for diabetes or blood thinners, you must call the doctor who orders those medications for instructions on altering the dosage before your colonoscopy. Blood thinners include Coumadin® (warfarin); Plavix®(clopidogrel); Ticlid® (ticlopidine hydrochloride); Agrylin® (anagrelide); Xarelto® (Rivaroxaban); Pradaxa® (Dabigatran); Eliquis® (Apixaban); and Effient® (Prasugrel).
All other medications, including aspirin, should be taken the day of the exam with a sip of water.
Five (5) days before your colonoscopy
Buy the prescription bowel preparation solution at your local pharmacy or drugstore pharmacy five days before your colonoscopy.
Three days before your colonoscopy
One day before your colonoscopy
Clear Liquids(No Red Liquids) | DO NOT DRINK |
---|---|
Gatorade®, Pedialyte® or Powerade® | Alcohol |
Clear broth or bouillon | Milk or non-dairy creamer |
Coffee or tea (no milk or non-dairy creamer) | Noodles or vegetables in soup |
Carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks | Juice with pulp |
Kool-Aid® or other fruit-flavored drinks | Liquid you cannot see through |
Strained fruit juices (no pulp) | |
Jell-O®, Popsicles®, hard candy | |
Water | |
Clear Liquids(No Red Liquids) | |
Gatorade®, Pedialyte® or Powerade® | |
DO NOT DRINK | |
Alcohol | |
Clear broth or bouillon | |
DO NOT DRINK | |
Milk or non-dairy creamer | |
Coffee or tea (no milk or non-dairy creamer) | |
DO NOT DRINK | |
Noodles or vegetables in soup | |
Carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks | |
DO NOT DRINK | |
Juice with pulp | |
Kool-Aid® or other fruit-flavored drinks | |
DO NOT DRINK | |
Liquid you cannot see through | |
Strained fruit juices (no pulp) | |
DO NOT DRINK | |
Jell-O®, Popsicles®, hard candy | |
DO NOT DRINK | |
Water | |
DO NOT DRINK | |
When to mix your bowel preparation
The MoviPrep® carton contains pouches and a disposable container for mixing. Follow mixing instructions on the carton. Mix the MoviPrep solution no sooner than 24 hours before it will be used. Do not add ice, sugar or flavorings to the solution. Do not take more than the recommended dose or serious side effects could occur. You can refrigerate the preparation before drinking.
Step 1
At 6:00 pm the evening before your colonoscopy:
Step 2
The next morning, 4-1/2 hours before your exam
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Last reviewed on 03/01/2020.
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