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Medications and Supplements
- If you take any medications or vitamins (especially heart or diabetes medications or blood thinners), please speak with your doctor. Your doctor will let you know if/when you should stop taking your medication(s).
- Take your medications as prescribed with small sips of water (if needed) the day of your procedure. Do this unless otherwise instructed by your doctor.
Beginning Three Days Before Your Procedure
DO NOT EAT corn, quinoa, lentils, peas, beans, fruits with seeds, leafy vegetables, red beets, nuts or anything with seeds. Do not eat these foods for three days before your colonoscopy. This way you are clear and clean before your procedure.
One Day Before Your Procedure
- BREAKFAST -you may have a LIGHT breakfast of white food with close to ZERO fiber (ex. cheese, egg, vanilla yogurt, white bread, chicken) up until 10am the day before.
- AFTER 10AM- BEGIN A CLEAR LIQUID DIET. You will not be able to eat solid food until after your procedure. Examples of clear liquids include water, soup broth, jello, clear juices, soda, sports drinks, plain tea or black coffee. Do not eat food that is not clear or drink milk, milkshakes, fruit or vegetable smoothies, juices that are not clear or alcohol until after your procedure. This is for your colon to be clear and clean for your procedure.
- Drink as much liquid as you can. This will help make sure you are prepared for and feel strong on the day of your colonoscopy.
- Do not drink red beet juice or any liquid with seeds.
Starting the Preparation (One Day before the Procedure)
Note: Prep start times may differ by doctor. Your doctor will confirm start times with you.Step 1: Preparing the First Dose of Suprep®
At 6:00 pm, pour one 6-ounce bottle of Suprep® into the container provided in your kit.
- Add tap or bottled water up to the 16-ounce line on the top of the container. Then mix the solution.
- Drink all of the solution in the container (8 ounces every 10-15 minutes).
- After you have finished drinking the solution, drink two more 16-ounce containers of plain water (with no Suprep® in it). Drink these two containers of water over the next 1-2 hours.
- You will likely start to have watery bowel movements about 2 hours after starting to drink the solution. For some people it can take longer for the preparation to start working.
- Be mindful that during the prep, your bowel movements will be lighter in color and watery.
- You must finish all of the prep solution. This helps to make sure your colon is as clean and clear as it can be and helps you have a better procedure.
Step 2: Mix and Drink the Second Dose of Suprep®:
- Drink the second bottle of Suprep® starting 4-5 hours before your scheduled procedure time.
- Prepare the second dose by pouring one 6-ounce bottle of Suprep® into the container provided.
- Add tap or bottle water up to the 16-ounce line on the top of the container. Then mix the solution.
- Drink all of the solution in the container (8 ounces every 10-15 minutes).
- After you have finish drinking the solution, drink two more 16-ounce containers of plain water (with no Suprep® in it). Drink these two containers of water over the next 1-2 hours.
- The preparation must be completed at least 3 hours before your scheduled procedure.
Helpful Tips
- Please note that some patients may have nausea with vomiting during the prep. If this happens to you, take a break from drinking the prep for about 30 minutes. Then start drinking it again but at a slower pace. You must drink the entire dose.
- Keeping the prep in the fridge for a while may make it taste better.
- Drinking the prep through a thick straw may make it easier to drink.
- Walking between drinking each glass can help ease bloating.
- Sucking on hard candies may help.
- Using baby wipes instead of toilet paper may feel better.
- You may apply some Vaseline® or Desitin® to your anal area / between your buttocks before starting the prep. This helps with irritation. Reapply as needed. You can also use over the counter hydrocortisone creams, hemorrhoid treatments or Tucks®.
- Stay close to a toilet during the prep. You may have several bowel movements during this time. The prep often works within 30 minutes but may take as long as 3 hours.
- Remember: The key to a good prep is to drink plenty of liquids throughout the day. This not only cleans out your colon but also keeps you strong!
The Day of Your Procedure
- Stop all drinking/eating (including the prep, chewing gum, and hard candies) 2 hours before your scheduled procedure.
- Bring a list of your medications with you on the day of your procedure.
- Take your medications as prescribed with small sips of water (if needed) the morning of your procedure. Do this unless instructed otherwise (refer to the Medications and Supplements section on the first page). Discuss with your doctor the medications you can or cannot take.
- Allow extra time to travel to your procedure. You may need to stop and use a restroom along the way.
After Your Procedure
- We will give you medication to sedate you during your colonoscopy. This medication will relax you and make you feel comfortable. You must arrange for a responsible adult to escort you home for your safety. If you do not have a responsible adult who will pick you up or escort you via public transportation after your procedure, we must cancel it.
- If we remove a large polyp during your procedure, you may have a 10-day restriction on travel. Be aware of this in case you may have to change your routine and schedule during this time.
- Do not drive, ride a bike, make important legal/business decisions, be solely responsible for the care of small children, or operate heavy machinery for the rest of the day. This is because you may feel drowsy.
- Unless your doctor directs otherwise, you may resume your normal diet following the procedure
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