Scheduled for a Colonoscopy?
How to Prepare
What Do You Need to Do to Prepare for Your Colonoscopy?
Five (5) days before your colonoscopy, discontinue fiber supplements and any medication containing iron (Metamucil, Citrucel, multivitamins with iron, etc.).
Taking a blood thinner? You’ll need to contact your prescribing physician before discontinuing.
Below is a checklist for medications/prescriptions and items that you’ll need:
● 1 container of 238g MiraLAX (Polyethylene Glycol – generic name) – will be sent as a prescription
● 2 (two) 5mg Dulcolax Laxative tablets, not stool softeners (Bisacodyl – generic name)
● 1 10oz. bottle of Magnesium Citrate
● 64oz. of Gatorade (NO RED OR PURPLE)
Arrange for a driver the day of your procedure who will remain on the premises until you are discharged from the surgery center.
Three (3) days before your colonoscopy, begin a low-fiber diet. Avoid tough meats, whole grains, nuts, popcorn, seeds (i.e. flax, sunflower, quinoa), raw/seedy vegetables and fruits, and beans.
Two (2) days before your colonoscopy, take 2 (two) Dulcolax laxative tablets.
On the day before your colonoscopy, as soon as you wake up, you will begin a clear-liquid diet for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and any snacks. NO SOLID FOOD, NO DAIRY, and NO RED OR PURPLE COLORED PRODUCTS.
● In the morning, you can mix all of the MiraLAX powder with all of the 64oz. Gatorade in a pitcher–stir/shake until the MiraLAX is completely dissolved. You may chill the mixture in the refrigerator if desired.
● At 8:00am, drink one (1) 10oz. bottle of Magnesium Citrate.
● At 4:00pm, start drinking 8oz. of the MiraLAX/Gatorade solution every 15 minutes, until the entire mixture is finished. (You should be done with this process around 6:00pm.)
● You may continue clear liquids until midnight.
Your Procedure Day Checklist:
● If you are given medication instructions by a nurse, please comply with those instructions.
● You may brush your teeth the morning of your procedure. Do NOT swallow the water.
● Wear comfortable clothes and shoes and leave all valuables at home.
● Bring your photo ID, insurance cards, and copayment.
● Do NOT have anything to eat or drink. NO CHEWING GUM, NO CANDY, NO MINTS, NO COUGH DROPS.
● Arrive to the surgery center with a responsible adult who will drive you to/from your procedure.
Taking a GLP-1 Agonist? (See list below)
| List of GLP-1 | |
|---|---|
| Brand Name | Generic Drug |
| Trulicity | Dulaglutide |
| Bydureon BCise | Exenatide (ER) |
| Byetta | Exenatide (IR) |
| Saxenda | Liraglutide (3mg) |
| Victoza | Liraglutide (1.2mg-1.8mg) |
| Adlysin | Lixisenatide |
| Ozempic | Semiglutide |
| Wegovy | Semiglutide |
If you are on a daily dose, hold your GLP-1 agonist for at least 24 hours and have nothing to eat or drink,
including cough drops, gum, hard candy, etc. for at least 8 hours prior to your procedure.
If you are on a weekly dosing schedule, the GLP-1 agonist must be held for at least 7 days (one week) prior to your procedure
with nothing to eat or drink, including cough drops, gum, hard candy, etc. for at least 8 hours prior to your procedure.
*Note – If you are taking your GLP-1 agonists for diabetic management, please contact the
prescriber for bridging the antidiabetic therapy to avoid hyperglycemia.
Low-Fiber Diet for Colonoscopy Preparation
Three (3) days before your colonoscopy, eat only low-fiber foods listed below. Two (2) days before your procedure, continue eating only low-fiber foods. A PDF is also available here.
See the clear liquid chart for the day before, and day of, your colonoscopy.
| FOOD GROUP | FOODS ALLOWED | FOODS TO AVOID |
|---|---|---|
| Beverages | Coffee, tea, decaffeinated coffee and tea, cocoa, carbonated beverages, fruit flavored drinks without pulp | Any beverages containing foods that are not allowed, alcoholic beverages |
| Breads, Cereals, Grains | Refined white, light wheat, or rye bread and rolls, sweet breads, saltines or soda crackers. All refined, cooked, and ready-to-eat cereals (corn, oats, white rice), such as Wheathearts, Malt-O-Meal, Cornflakes, Special K, Cheerios, and Post Toasties | Rolls with nuts, seeds, coconut or fruit not allowed, bread containing cracked wheat particles or whole seed, coarse, dry cereals, any with bran or raisins. All others not listed as allowed. Graham crackers, corn bread |
| Desserts | All plain puddings, custard, tapioca, gelatin desserts, fruit whips, smooth ice cream, fruit ice, plain sherbet, yogurt, cake and cookies, pies made with allowed fruits | Rice pastry or cakes, those with nuts, seeds, raisins, coconut, dates, or fruit that are not allowed |
| Eggs | All | Egg dishes prepared with ingredients that are not allowed |
| Fats | Butter, margarine, cooking oil, cream, milk, salad dressings, and mayonnaise (as tolerated), bacon, and plain gravies | Nuts, olives, all others |
| Fruits and Fruit Juices | Fruit juice without pulp, canned-applesauce, cherries, fruit cocktail, and peaches, fresh-bananas, cherries, grapefruit, melon, nectarine, peaches, plums | Prune juice, canned-pineapple and pears, fresh-apples, apricot, avocado, berries, mango, pears, dried dates, figs, prunes, raisins |
| Meat & Meat Substitutes | Tender, broiled, stewed or creamed roast beef, veal, lamb, pork, ham, poultry, fish, chopped clams, oysters, liver, kidneys Cheese – cream cheese, cottage, American, cheddar, swiss, or jack cheese Smooth peanut butter | Fried meats, fish, poultry, meats highly seasoned or containing whole spices, sausage frankfurters, strong cheeses or those containing seeds, dried beans or peas, chunky peanut butter. All others not listed are allowed. |
| Milk | All | None except those with seeds, nuts, fruits not allowed, limit milk to 2 cups/day |
| Potatoes & Substitutes | White and sweet potatoes (no skins), refined rice, macaroni, spaghetti, and noodles | All others |
| Soups | Creamed soups with pureed or whole allowed vegetables, strained vegetable soups or chowders, meat or fish broths | Highly seasoned soups of those containing ingredients other than on allowed list |
| Vegetables & Vegetable Juices | Cooked or canned-artichoke hearts, asparagus, beets, carrots, chard, green and wax beans, bean sprouts, mushrooms, pimento, and pumpkin. Fresh cooked tomatoes (no seeds or skins), stewed, pastes, purees, tomato juice. Limit vegetables to 2 servings/day and less than 2g fiber/serving. | All other raw, strongly flavored vegetables (cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, summer squash, okra, brussels sprouts, parsnips, rutabagas, turnips, onions, corn, baked beans). All others not listed are allowed. |
| Miscellaneous | Sugar, jelly, honey, syrup, plain candy, salt, pepper, flavoring extracts, herbs and seasonings not listed to avoid, milk, gravies, and cream sauces, barbecue sauce, mustard, and ketchup. | Any on not allowed list, jam, marmalade, fruit preserves, plain chocolate, chili pepper, curry powder, cloves, seed spices, horseradish, popcorn, pickles, salsa, relish, and chutney. All seeds such as poppy, sesame, and caraway. |
Clear-Liquid Diet for Colonoscopy Preparation
One (1) day before–and the day of–your colonoscopy, you will be on a clear-liquid diet. The chart shows examples of drinks you can include and what to avoid. Starting the day before your screening, do not eat any solid food until after your colonoscopy. A PDF is also available here.
See the low-fiber diet chart for what you can eat the previous days.
| Clear Liquids and Limited Light-Color Drinks Only | Yes – Okay to Drink | No – Avoid These |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clear Broth Flavored Water (NO RED OR PURPLE DYE) Jell-O (NO RED OR PURPLE DYE) Popsicles/Italian Ice (NO RED OR PURPLE DYE) Coffee & Tea (NO CREAMER-including non-dairy powdered creamer) Fruit Juice – apple, white cranberry (NO RED OR PURPLE DYE; AVOID PULP) Soft Drinks (NO RED OR PURPLE DYE) Sports Drinks – Gatorade, Powerade, Propel (NO RED OR PURPLE DYE) Boost, Ensure, Glucerna (up to 2 cans on the day prior to the procedure-clear only) | NO FOOD Alcoholic Beverages Milk/Dairy Ice Cream Smoothies Protein Shakes Milkshakes Cream (including non-dairy powdered) Orange Juice Grapefruit Juice Tomato Juice Soup (avoid even if you drain the solid food) Cooked Cereal Juice, Popsicles, or Gelatins with red or purple dye |
Where Will Your Colonoscopy Procedure Take Place?
Our staff at Lakeview Ambulatory Surgery Center will take great care of you!
2000 Meade Parkway
Suite 195
Suffolk, VA 23434
Phone: (757) 934-9505
Fax: (757) 923-9648
Monday-Friday:
7:00am-3:30pm
Saturday-Sunday:
Closed