Three to Five days before:

Make arrangements for a responsible adult to accompany you to your appointment and drive you home. If possible, this person should be someone we can share the results of the exam with.

Stop taking medications that contain iron.

Continue any other medications that you normally take.

For females, if you have started your menstrual period it is still okay to do the colonoscopy. Female patients of the appropriate age will be asked to provide a urine specimen for a pregnancy test the morning of your procedure at the facility.

It is helpful to eat lightly a few days before your exam. It makes the cleanout easier and more effective. Try to avoid overeating to compensate for the upcoming fast. Please avoid Metamucil, raw vegetables, corn, and foods with skin or small seeds (like tomatoes, sesame seeds, kiwi, and cucumbers) for a few days before your exam.

The day before:

Eat a clear liquid diet for breakfast, lunch, and dinner the day before the test. CLEAR LIQUIDS are anything you can see through. This includes clear water, fat free broths, bouillon, tea, coffee (without creamer), Kool-Aid, Crystal Light, carbonated beverages, sodas, fruit juices without pulp (apple, white grape, cranberry), popsicles without pulp, Jell-O, hard candies, Italian ices, Gatorade. AVOID anything with red dye. NOT ALLOWED: Orange juice, fruit nectars, liquids you cannot see through, milk, cream. Please drink plenty of fluids during the day to prevent dehydration.

If you are a diabetic patient on insulin, please check with your primary physician regarding necessary changes to your doses.

This step varies between procedures. Please download instructions for the appropriate prep: Polyethylene Glycol, MoviPrep, Gatorade/Miralax, or SUPREP.

This step varies between procedures. Please download instructions for the appropriate prep: Polyethylene Glycol, MoviPrep, Gatorade/Miralax, or SUPREP.

You may continue drinking clear liquids throughout the evening.

The day of:

No breakfast

At least 4 hours before your appointment, pour the second 6 ounce bottle of SUPREP into the mixing container and fill with cold water to the 16 ounce line and mix. Drink all of this over 15 minutes. You MUST drink another 32 ounces of clear fluid over the next hour. You must finish drinking the final glass of water at least 3 hours before your check Page 3 of 3 in time.You need to do the second dose the morning of your procedure even if your stools were clear the night before.

You cannot have any food, drink, candy, gum, chewing tobacco and should not smoke for 3 hours before your procedure. You should not have broth the morning of your procedure.

You may take blood pressure medications, seizure medications, prophylactic antibiotics, and inhalers prior to your procedure with a sip of water. Take insulin as directed by your primary physician.

Dress comfortably. You may want to bring a change of clothes just in case you soil the clothes you are wearing. You may want to consider wearing Depends if you have a long drive.

You will need to bring a driver, a list of your medications/vitamins (that includes the name, dose, frequency, and reason for taking the medication), driver’s license (or Identification), insurance card, and co-pay if your insurance requires one. Leave your jewelry and other valuables at home.