Colonoscopy Preparation Instructions – NuLytely

(or similar medications such as GoLytely, CoLyte, generic polyethylene glycol solution)

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. In doing so, it typically causes loose and frequent bowel movements. It is important that you stop eating high fiber foods (like bran, whole grain and seeded breads, and fiber cereals), stop taking fiber supplements (like Metamucil and Citrucel), and stop using iron supplements, one week prior to the procedure.

Diet on the Day Before Your Procedure

Morning: Have a low fiber breakfast without any fruit or vegetables (for example, eggs, low pulp juices, milk, coffee or tea, low fiber cereal like Rice Krispies, and/or breakfast meats), mix your laxative solution (with water, as directed on the label) and refrigerate. You can drink a can of Ensure or Boost (without fiber) with breakfast to avoid feeling hungry later on. You should have no solid food after breakfast until after your procedure is completed on the following day. You may have as much of the clear liquids (see “choices” below) as you wish.

Noon: Clear liquids only (see “choices” below for suggestions).

Evening: Have a clear liquid supper (see “choices” below for suggestions).

Note: You should drink plenty of clear liquids on the day before the procedure to aid in the preparation and avoid becoming dehydrated (dried out). Be sure to take your usual medications, unless you have been specifically advised to hold them prior to the procedure.

Choices: Clear liquids include chicken or vegetable broth (without solid material like noodle or vegetables), any Jello (except red or purple color, tea or black coffee (without milk), water, ginger ale, Seven-up or Sprite, or Gatorade.

Starting at 4 to 6 p.m. on the day prior to the scheduled procedure, begin taking the laxative (NuLytely, CoLyte, GoLytely, or generic polyethylene glycol solution):

• Drink a large glass (about 8 ounces) every 10 to 15 minutes. It is best to drink the entire glass rapidly, rather than sipping small amounts.
• Continue drinking until the bottle is empty. If cramping or vomiting occurs, slow down or take a break for a while, but try to finish the gallon.
• Bowel movements should begin about one hour after the first glass of laxative. They will usually continue for about 1 to 2 hours after you finish drinking the last glass. By this time the stool liquid should be clear of large particles but may still have a dark or cloudy color. This usually indicates a good cleansing. If you are still passing solid material 2 hours after you’ve finished drinking the entire laxative you should have someone pick up a Dulcolax (bisacodyl) 10 mg suppository (available over-the-counter) and allow this to melt inside the rectum. This will help stimulate the passage of the remainder of material from the colon.
• You may feel bloated or nauseate after the first few glasses, because of the large amount of fluid. This should improve once bowel movements begin.
• You may continue to have clear liquids to drink throughout the night before the procedure (until midnight unless directed otherwise).
• You should have nothing to eat or drink after midnight except for your usual medications that you were advised to take in the morning (with a sip of water). If your procedure is scheduled in the afternoon (1 p.m. or later) you will be given slightly different dietary instructions for the morning of the day of the procedure but you should still take your usual medications.
• 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.