What Are Colonoscopy Prep Pills?
Colonoscopy prep pills are oral laxatives and cleansing agents taken before your colonoscopy. They quickly empty the colon to ensure your doctor can see the intestinal lining clearly during the procedure.
Two main types of colonoscopy prep pills include:
Osmotic Laxatives
Osmotic laxatives draw water into the colon to induce bowel movements. These may contain magnesium, phosphate, sulfate, or polyethylene glycol.
Examples: Milk of Magnesia, Glycolax, MoviPrep
Stimulant Laxatives
Stimulant laxatives promote contractions in the intestinal walls to push out stool. These contain chemicals like bisacodyl, senna, or picosulfate.
Examples: Dulcolax, Senokot, Prepopik
Why Prep Pills Are Used
For a colonoscopy to be successful, your colon must be fully cleaned out. Leftover stool and fluid can obscure the camera view and cause missed lesions.
Taking colonoscopy prep pills as directed empties the colon by inducing diarrhea and bowel movements. This cleansing allows your doctor to see the colon lining clearly.
Common Colonoscopy Prep Pill Regimens
The exact prep pills and schedule will depend on your doctors recommendations. However, some typical colonoscopy pill prep regimens include:
MoviPrep Regimen
1 Week Before: Avoid seeds, nuts, popcorn, corn
1 Day Before: Clear liquid diet all day, no solid foods. At 6 PM, take 1st MoviPrep dose (pouch A + B mixed with water). Over the next hour, drink (1) 8 oz glass of solution every 15 minutes until gone. Afterwards, drink at least 16 oz of clear liquids.
Morning Of: 5 hours before your colonoscopy, take the 2nd MoviPrep dose like before. Consume only clear liquids up to 2 hours beforehand.
Prepopik Regimen
2 Days Before: Low fiber diet
1 Day Before: Clear liquid diet. At 6 PM, take 2 Prepopik capsules with a glass of water. Continue drinking 5 8oz glasses of clear liquids over the next 5 hours.
Morning Of: 5 hours before your colonoscopy, take another 2 capsules with water. Then drink 3 more 8oz glasses of clear liquids up to 2 hours before your test.
SuPrep Regimen
2 Days Before: Low residue diet
1 Day Before: Clear liquid diet. At 5 PM, take 1st SuPrep dose (mix packet in 16 oz water and drink). Over the next hour, drink two more 16oz containers of water. At 9 PM, take 2nd SuPrep packet the same way.
Morning Of: Nothing by mouth 2 hours before your colonoscopy.
Tips for Taking
FAQs
What does it mean if vomit looks like coffee grounds?
Coffee ground appearing vomit signifies the presence of digested blood from bleeding in the stomach or esophagus. This is considered a medical emergency requiring immediate treatment.
Is foamy vomit normal?
A foamy consistency can be normal, often caused by excess gas, acid reflux, or mucus in the stomach. However, persistent foamy vomit may indicate an issue like gastritis that needs medical attention.
What causes chunky vomit?
Chunky vomit contains undigested pieces of food, indicating the stomach contents ejected rapidly. Causes include poor chewing, overeating, alcohol, stomach flu, food poisoning, or intestinal blockage.
When is white vomit a concern?
White vomit may just indicate an empty stomach. But if persistent, it could signal issues like acid reflux, pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, or pyloric stenosis, especially in infants. See a doctor if it continues.
Can certain foods change vomit color?
Yes, foods with dyes or pigments can alter vomit color, like carrots (orange), blueberries (blue/purple), spinach (green). Evaluate if a colored food was recently consumed before worrying.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
Add Comment