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Procedure Prep Information
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Steps to Follow For Every Colonoscopy
7 days before
- Most people will not need to do anything differently this far in advance of a colonoscopy. However, review you medications with your doctor and ask for specific instructions if you take blood-thinners (like Plavix or Pradaxa).
- STOP warfarin 5 days prior, Plavix 5 days prior, Eliquis 3 days prior, Xarelto 2 days prior, Ozempic 7 days prior to the procedure(unless otherwise ddirected).
- You don’t need to stop Aspirin 81mg, and normal doses of ibufprofen, Motrin, Aleve, Noproxen, etc.
5 days before
Stop eating nuts, seeds, and popcorn.
The day before
- Begin a clear liquid diet, in addition to drinking 8 glasses of water during the day.
- At 6pm, you will need to take the laxative preparation prescribed by your doctor according to the specific instructions.
- Stay near the toilet after you begin taking the prep solution.
Day of your exam
While some of the colonoscopy prep solutions are only taken the previous day, others will need to be repeated the morning of your exam. The instructions for each solution are below.
- No smoking on the day of your procedure
- Take any morning medications at least 3 hours before your exam with 4oz of water.
- Stop drinking liquids 4 hours.
- Bring a list of all your current prescription and over-the-counter medications
- Arrange for a ride to and from the doctor
Length of Procedures
You should expect to spend about 2.5-3 hours at the surgery center for a procedure.
Ride to/from the Procedure
You will need a responsible adult (friend or family member) to drive you home after receiving sedation. YOU CANNOT USE A BUS, TAXI, UBER OR LYFT TO GET YOU HOME FROM THE SURGERY CENTER.