Colonoscopy Miralax

Your colon must be completely cleaned out before the colonoscopy so that the doctor can see any abnormal areas. Please follow the given prep instructions to the letter and share any concerns with your doctor.

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COLONOSCOPY PREP WITH MIRALAX & GATORADE
PLEASE PURCHASE	Over the counter at local pharmacy Dulcolax (bisacodyl) 5 mg pills (need 3 pills total) Miralax 238 gram bottle Gatorade – two 28 (or 32) oz bottles (No Red, Purple or Orange Color)
7 DAYS BEFORE	Stop fiber supplements and iron supplements, including multivitamins
3 DAYS BEFORE	Begin a LOW FIBER Diet including: White or sour dough bread White Rice, Pasta Eggs, Chicken, Turkey, Fish Cheese, Yogurt, Milk, Ice Cream, Pudding Canned or cooked fruit/vegetables without skin or peel (carrots, cucumbers, potatoes) Pureed fruits/vegetables (smoothies, strained puree soups) Creamy peanut or almond butter	High Fiber Foods to AVOID: Raw fruits/vegetables with seeds, skin, membranes Cooked/canned fruit/vegetables with skin/seeds/peel Whole wheat or multigrain bread or crackers Nuts, Seeds Popcorn Oatmeal, bran cereal Brown rice, quinoa
2 DAYS BEFORE	Continue LOW FIBER Diet Avoid solid foods after midnight
1 DAY BEFORE	MORNING: Start a CLEAR LIQUID Diet Water Apple, White Grape, White Cranberry Juices without Pulp Clear Soup/Broth Tea or Black coffee (no milk/creamer) Gatorade/Powerade (no red, purple or orange color) Jello (no red, purple, or orange color) Popsicles (no red, purple, or orange color) 6PM: Take Dulcolax 3 tablets with sips of water 7PM: Pour half of the Miralax into one Gatorade bottle and half into the second Gatorade bottle; shake until dissolved Drink one 28 (or 32) oz bottle, a cup every 15 minutes until completed Put the second 28 (or 32) oz bottle in the refrigerator Bowel movements should begin 1-2 hours after starting the Miralax/Gatorade mix but the effect can be delayed by up to 4-6 hours

DAY OF COLONOSCOPY
6 HOURS BEFORE	Drink the second 28 (or 32) oz bottle of Miralax/Gatorade A cup every 15 minutes until completed By the end of the cleanse your stool should be a clear liquid with yellow or green tinge
3 HOURS BEFORE	Stop drinking/eating clear liquids Do not chew gum or mints Take regular medications with a small sip of water the morning of your procedure unless otherwise instructed by your physician
30 MIN BEFORE	Arrive at endoscopy suite 30 MIN PRE PROCEDURE (no later!) Bring list of current medications including doses Bring a Photo ID and Insurance Card Bring any applicable Referrals Please do not bring any valuables

GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
URINE PREGNANCY TESTING	• If you are a premenopausal woman, you will need to submit a urine sample upon office check in
IF YOU HAVE DIABETES	Contact your primary care doctor or endocrinologist for instructions regarding your medications
IF YOU TAKE MEDICATION TO THIN YOUR BLOOD	Contact your gastroenterologist for further instructions at (212) 427-8761 Medications include but are not limited to: Heparin, Lovenox, Warfarin (Coumadin), Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Apixaban (Eliquis), Edoxaban (Lixiana, Savaysa), Betrixaban (Bevyxxa), Clopidigrel (Plavix), Prasugrel (Effient), Brilinta (Ticagrelor)
IF YOU TAKE WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATIONS	Alert your GI provider to discuss holding your medication(s) prior to your procedure
IF YOU TAKE ASPIRIN OR BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICATIONS	You may continue to take these medications
ESCORT	Please ensure that you have an escort (responsible adult over the age of 18) to pick you up at the end of the procedure

Updated on Jan 30, 2025 by Dr. Shawn Khodadadian (Gastroenterologist) of Manhattan Gastroenterology