Except for that which is specified below or unless advised otherwise, please take your prescription medications as you usually would. If you are a diabetic and on medication, please check with your medical doctor for instructions regarding this medication.
IMPORTANT: Certain medications can increase the possibility of bleeding after even the most minor or major surgical procedures.
If you are taking aspirin or aspirin-containing medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (i.e. Motrin, Advil, Aleve, Nuprin, Indocin, Ibuprofen, Ecotrin, Celebrex, and Mobic), iron, persantine or dipyridamole, it is essential that these medications be STOPPED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO PROCEDURE.
Vitamin supplements such as saw palmetto, gingko biloba, garlic, vitamin E, etc., should also be STOPPED ONE WEEK PRIOR TO PROCEDURE.
Blood thinners such as PLAVIX should be STOPPED SEVEN (7) DAYS and COUMADIN (WARFARIN) should be STOPPED FIVE (5) DAYS PRIOR TO PROCEDURE. PLEASE CHECK WITH THE PRESCRIBING PHYSICIAN ABOUT STOPPING BLOOD THINNERS.
Remain on all other medications unless you are advised to discontinue them by our office or by your private physician.
If there are questions regarding the safety of stopping any of the above medications, or if there is a question as to whether a particular medication should be stopped, please check with your medical doctor and notify our office immediately.
If there is any chance, no matter how slim, that you might be PREGNANT we MUST be notified and your colonoscopy will be cancelled.
If you take antibiotics prophylactically for any dental procedure, please notify this office. Note: Mitral valve prolapse is no longer consider to be an indication for antibiotic prophylaxis for colonoscopy or upper endoscopy. Please speak to either your internist or cardiologist in this regard. Their medical input is important to us for your care throughout this procedure.
Report to the designated facility at the appropriate time. You will need someone to take you home after the procedure.
WE WILL NEED YOUR FULL MEDICATION LIST BEFORE THE PROCEDURE.
*You we be asked to list ALL medications (including prescriptions, over-the-counter medications, ointments, salves, vitamins and herbs) you are currently taking, the dose (how much you are taking), the route (by mouth, by injection, topically, etc.), how often (once daily, twice daily, as needed, etc.), the last time you took the medication prior to the procedure and the reason you take the medication. You will also need to list ALL ALLERGIES you have.*
PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!
PLEASE REVIEW COLONOSCOPY INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE STARTING PREP – It is advisable that someone be with you during the preparation process for safety reasons.
YOU WILL NEED:
Approximately two days before the procedure, we advise you to eat lighter meals, avoid fruits and vegetables. Also, make sure you are drinking a lot of liquids (light diet consists of chicken, fish, pasta, white bread, etc.)
You will can only consume CLEAR liquids all day (i.e. apple juice, ginger ale, juices without pulp, clear broth, Jell-O, popsicles, coffee or tea (without milk), ices without pulp, diet Snapple, Gatorade, water). Try to drink as much sugar-free as possible. DO NOT EAT/DRINK ANYTHING RED OR PURPLE. No solid for the entire day.
Mix the ENTIRE 238-g bottle of miralax with a 64-oz any clear liquid choice (given above) and refrigerate.
At 5:00pm, you will begin drinking the prep and this MUST BE FINISHED IN ONE HOUR. When beginning your prep, also take four DULCOLAX LAXATIVE TABLETS. If irritation develops during the preparation, it is recommended that you lubricate the rectal area with Vaseline or A&D ointment.
Continue to drink as much clear liquids as possible until bedtime. DO NOT EAT/DRINK ANYTHING AFTER MIDNIGHT.
DO NOT OMIT (NOT DO) ANY PART OF THIS PREPARATION. A poor preparation may cause a polyp or cancer to go undetected.
ANESTHESIA REQUIRES THAT YOU HAVE NOTHING TO EAT/ DRINK FROM MIDNIGHT PRIOR TO THE APPOINTMENT TIME. YOU MAY TAKE NECESSARY MEDICATIONS WITH A SIP OF WATER. PLEASE BRING ANY INHALERS WITH YOU.