Suprep | Colonoscopy Preparation Instructions
To ensure a successful exam, please follow all instructions carefully. Please bring a list of all your current medications, including any over-the-counter medications with you.
If you must reschedule or cancel your appointment, please call +1 (203) 237-2477 .
ONE WEEK BEFORE COLONOSCOPY
- Please notify our nursing staff if you have had any major health or medication changes since scheduling your procedure. This could affect your preparation instructions.
- Arrange for a licensed adult driver to take you home. By law, you may not drive for the rest of the day after your procedure. Public transportation is allowed with an adult escort.
- Pick up the prescribed bowel preparation kit at your pharmacy. We recommend that you call your pharmacy prior to picking up the prep to ensure they have the prescription.
- Prepare for a clear liquid diet. Purchase clear pulp-free juices (apple, white grape, white cranberry), sports drinks, broth, popsicles, hard candy, coffee and tea without milk or cream—NO RED or PURPLE Liquids
- Medications
- If you take any Aspirin or blood thinners, i.e. Coumadin, Plavix, Pradaxa, etc., please call our staff if you have not received special instructions.
- May continue to take regular medications, unless instructed by provider or staff
- Avoid NSAIDS (Ibuprofen, Aleve, Motrin, Meloxicam, etc)
- Continue Tylenol if needed.
- Stop Taking
- Iron pills or vitamins with iron
- Fish Oil
- Stop Eating
- Seeds, nuts, tomatoes, berries, breads with seeds or nuts
ONE DAY BEFORE COLONOSCOPY
- Start clear liquid diet. No solid foods, red or purple liquids, chewing gum, and alcohol.
- Mix bowel prep solution:
- Suprep contains two 6 oz. bottles. You will drink one bottle the night before the colonoscopy and the second bottle the morning of the colonoscopy.
- Start drinking prep between 5-9 pm
- Pour one 6 oz. bottle of Suprep liquid into the mixing container.
- Add cool drinking water to the 16 oz. line on the container and mix.
- Drink all the liquid in the container.
- After finishing the container, you MUST drink two (2) more 16 oz. containers of water over the next 1 hour.
- Nausea is common while drinking prep. If this occurs, stop drinking for 30 minutes before restarting.
- Walking around may help relieve nausea.
- Patients that are Diabetic
- Evening Dose Only: Take ½ the dose of your diabetic medication(s) the day before your procedure
- No dose the day of the procedure
DAY OF COLONOSCOPY
- Continue clear liquid diet–No Solid Food.
- May take blood pressure, heart, or seizure medication the morning of the test. Hold all other medication. Be sure to take medication two hours prior to test.
- Start drinking prep five (5) hours prior to arrival time:
- Pour one 6 oz. bottle of Suprep liquid into the mixing container.
- Add cool drinking water to the 16 oz. line on the container and mix.
- Drink all the liquid in the container.
- After finishing the container, you MUST drink two (2) more 16 oz. containers of water over the next 1 hour.
- NOTHING TO EAT OR DRINK FOUR HOURS PRIOR TO ARRIVAL TIME. NO CHEWING GUM.
- Wear comfortable clothes; two-piece outfit is preferable.
- Leave valuables such as jewelry at home
- Arrive on time at the designated location with completed paperwork, photo ID, and insurance card.
- You must have a responsible adult drive you home. We recommend that he/she stay in the waiting room during the duration of your stay; which is approximately 90 minutes.