Instructions for Colonoscopy or Bowel Preparation


Follow these Instructions if you are having a colonoscopy or surgery that requires bowel preparation prior to your procedure. You will be informed by your surgeon or surgery scheduler if you need to do a bowel prep.

Cleansing the bowel prior to intestinal or pelvic surgery is an important step in making the operation safe. The following steps will assist in mechanically cleaning the bowel prior to your surgery. The following prep is done the day before your procedure:

You are allowed to have ONLY clear liquids all day. "Clear liquids" are defined as any pulp-free beverage that is not red or purple in color. Please avoid grape jucies, red Kool-Aid etc. Examples include:

Plain Tea
Clear juice (clear cranberry, clear grape, apple)
Kool-Aide
Jello
Popsicles
Beef or chicken broth
Gatorade
Coffee (with sugar ok)
NO milk products
NO orange juice
NO carbonated beverages

HalfLytely Bowel Prep Instructions

At 10:00am take 2 bisacodyl tablets with water.
Do NOT chew or crush
Do not take the tables within one hour of taking antacid

Mix solution:
Add lukewarm water to the top of the line on the bottle
Cap bottle and shake to dissolve the powder

Wait for bowel movement (usually occurs in 1-6 hours). Even lf no bowel movement occurs after 2 hours.
begin to drink the solution at NOON:

  • Drink 1 (8oz) glass every 10 minutes (about 8 glasses). Drink quickly rather than drinking small amounts continuously
  • The entire amount needs to be consumed in less than 3 hours
  • If you have severe discomfort or bloating, stop drinking the solution for awhile or wait longer between each glass until discomfort goes away
  • Do not take any medicines within 1 hour of starting to drink the solution
  • Avoid drinking large amounts of water during or after taking this product
  • Nausea, cramping and abdominal fullness are the most common adverse reactions.
  • *D0 NOT EAT OR DRINK ANY LIQUIDS AFTER MIDNIGHT THE EVENING PRIOR TO YOUR PROCEDURE.