The day of your colonoscopy

Please follow these instructions on the day of your colonoscopy. 

Medicines

Continue to take your regular medicines. Take them either 2 hours before or 2 hours after you start your second bowel preparation, unless you have been instructed otherwise.

Food and drink

Do not eat any food.

Drink plenty of clear fluid. You can clear fluid up to 3 hours before your colonoscopy.

You can drink:

• squash
• fizzy drinks
• clear strained soup
• clear stock
• tea or coffee with no milk

Do not eat anything until after your procedure.

Bowel preparation

On the morning of your procedure, you will need to take second dose (amount) of your bowel preparation solution.

Take this 5 hours before your procedure time.  

Please follow the instructions and timetable in this section for the solution that you are taking. Do not follow the instructions on the packet.

Picolax or CitraFleet (sodium picosulphate) sachets

Take the second sachet of Picolax or CitraFleet, preparing it in the same way as before. 

Moviprep

Dissolve the second sachets of A and B Moviprep. Prepare in the same way as before. Drink them over the course of 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.

Plenvu

Dissolve the second sachets of A and B Plenvu. Prepare in the same way as before. Drink them over the course of 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes.

Going to hospital

Please leave valuable items at home. Do not bring them with you to the endoscopy unit.

You may want to bring a dressing gown and slippers to keep you warm as you will need to change into a hospital gown.  

You will be hungry after the procedure. You can bring in your own snacks to have afterwards. Please do not bring anything that will need re-heating. There will also be hot drinks (tea, coffee and hot chocolate) and biscuits available.