Colonoscopy Preparation Instructions – Miralax
Be sure to carefully read these instructions at least two weeks before the date of your appointment to ensure that you understand it and are able to follow the directions.
Proper Preparation: The Key to An Accurate Diagnosis
The bowel needs to be flushed completely free of waste
material to give your doctor the clearest view. It is
important that you do your best to follow these
instructions. If the bowel is incompletely cleansed it may
make it difficult to detect or treat abnormalities and the
procedure may need to be repeated. The preparation is
specially designed to help cleanse the colon and allow for
the best examination.
One week before the procedure:
Stop taking any iron supplements.
Four (4) days before the procedure:
Stop taking Aspirin, Vitamin E, Motrin, Advil, Aleve, etc.
Stop taking any blood thinners (Coumadin, Warfarin, Plavix),
if approved by your physician.
Two (2) nights before the procedure:
Take either the laxative of your choice or purchase 'Dulcolax
Overnight' and take 1 tablet.
Diet on the Day Before Your Procedure
Clear liquid diet all day - no red or purple liquids.
Choices |
- Apple Juice
- Tea or Coffee (honey, sugar, and sugar substitutes
can be used but no milk)
- Jell-O (No red or purple)
|
- Popsicles (orange, lemon-lime)
- Gatorade (orange, lemon-lime)
- Clear soup, broth
- White grape juice
- Hard candy
|
Laxative Instructions
- Mix 527 gram of Miralax powder in 64 oz. (1/2 gallon) water or
lemon flavor Gatorade in the morning the day before your colonoscopy.
Keep in refrigerator until ready to use.
- Start drinking the laxative solution at 2 p.m.
- Drink 8 ounces of liquid laxative every 30 minutes. (If
you start to feel nauseated or bloated, stop for one hour.)
- Try to finish the entire liquid laxative even if you
think you don't need it.
Bedtime Instructions
- Nothing to eat or drink, including water, until after the
procedure unless instructed otherwise.
Note: If you are scheduled for an afternoon procedure,
save 2 glasses of the laxative solution to drink early in
the morning the day of your procedure. You may also have
clear liquids up to 5 hours before you come to the UConn
Procedure Center. If you have problems with the preparation and have questions during the evening hours (after 5 p.m.) you should call 860-679-2626 and ask for the GI fellow on-call. If you have questions during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. please call 860-679-4784. |
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For more information or to make an appointment, call 860-679-3238.
Office Location
UConn Health Center
Dowling North Medical Building
263 Farmington Avenue
Farmington, CT 06030
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