A Miralax and Dulcolax bowel prep is done to clear the bowel of all solid matter. Its purpose is to prepare the bowel for surgery or a procedure. Please follow these instructions. Begin the bowel prep one day before your scheduled procedure.
To prepare
- Tell our doctors or any member of our clinical staff if you have diabetes or if you are taking blood thinners. You may need to stop some of your medicine a few days before your test.
- You may take your medicines, other than diabetes medicines and blood thinners the morning of your test. You may do so with sips of water only.
- Five days before your test: Do not take aspirin products or iron tablets.
- You will need these items from a pharmacy: Miralax in large bottle (8.3 ounces or 255 grams); 4 Dulcolax or Bisacodyl tablets (5 milligram tablets). There may be store brands of these products that cost less. Ask the pharmacist to help you find what you need.
- Buy a large 64-ounce bottle of sports drink such as Gatorade. If you have diabetes, buy a no or low calorie drink such as Crystal Light instead. This will be used to mix with your Miralax the day before your test. Do not use carbonated beverages.
- Arrange to have an adult bring you to your appointment and take you home after your test.
On the day before your test
1. Drink only clear liquids. Avoid all red or purple colored liquids. Do not eat any solid food or milk products until your test is done.
Clear liquids are:
- Water
- Strained fruit juices (no pulp)
- Popsicles
- Ice
- Soft drinks
- Gatorade
- Clear broth or bouillon
- Jello
- Kool Aid
- Coffee or tea (no milk or cream)
2. Follow the schedule in the table below for your bowel prep. You may need to get to the toilet right away. You will have many bowel movements through the day. They will become very watery. The bowels are clear or clean when there is only pale yellow fluid without flecks of stool.
1:00 PM
Take 4 Dulcolax tablets with a drink of clear liquids.
2:00 PM
Mix the Miralax in a 64-ounce bottle of Gatorade or other clear liquid of choice. Cap the bottle and shake the bottle to dissolve the powder. Most people prefer to drink the liquid chilled so you may want to place it in the refrigerator.
4:00 PM
Start to drink the Miralax. Drink one glass every 10 to 15 minutes. Finish drinking the liquid in 2 hours. Be sure to drink all of the liquid.
12:00 midnight
Do not eat or drink anything after 12 midnight. You may gargle but do not swallow any liquid. Do not smoke after 12 midnight.
The morning of the colonoscopy
- Do not eat or drink anything until your test is done.
- If you are to take your morning medicines, take with small sips of water only.
- Bring all medicines you usually take (in the original containers) to the hospital with you.
- You will need to have an adult with you to take you home after your test. You will not be able to leave by yourself and it will not be safe for you to drive because of the medicine you are given at the start of the test.
- You may be told to arrive 1 hour before your test is scheduled so that staff can get you ready. Expect to be here for 2 to 4 hours for your test and recovery time.
Talk to our doctors or nurses if you have any questions or concerns.
FAQs
A Miralax and Dulcolax bowel prep is done to clear the bowel of all solid matter. Its purpose is to prepare the bowel for surgery or a procedure. Please follow these instructions.
What is the easiest bowel prep for colonoscopy? ›
What is the easiest prep to take for a colonoscopy?
- A sulfate-free and flavored formula, such as NuLYTELY or TriLyte (PEG), for better taste.
- A lower-volume formula, such as MiraLAX or Halflytely (PEG), so there's less to drink.
Five hours before you leave home for your procedure, drink FOUR 8 oz. glasses of MiraLAX®/ Gatorade® solution, one 8 oz. glass every 15-30 minutes (or more, until bowel movements are clear yellow). You may need to start in the middle of the night for an early morning procedure.
What if I can't finish the MiraLAX prep for colonoscopy? ›
If you haven't finished your prep or your bowel movements aren't reduced to clear liquids on the morning of your colonoscopy, contact your healthcare provider's office. Waiting (or not telling them) may mean they only discover that stool is still present once you are already sedated and the procedure has begun.
Can you throw up while taking Miralax for colonoscopy prep? ›
If you feel nauseous or vomit, take a 30 minute break, rinse your mouth, and then continue drinking your prep. If you throw up your bowel prep, just try your best to drink as much bowel prep as you can tolerate and report for your endoscopy as scheduled.
How long does it take to poop after Miralax colonoscopy prep? ›
It usually takes about 30-60 minutes after drinking the Miralax solution to begin having bowel movements.
What is the least awful colonoscopy prep? ›
There are also sulfate-free PEG preps that some people prefer because they taste a little less salty. A few of these brands include NuLYTELY and TriLyte. (More details on the prep process below.)
Which colonoscopy prep is the most tolerable? ›
SUTAB is more tolerable for many patients due to its pill form and may cause fewer side effects, such as nausea or vomiting, as a result. CLENPIQ is another solution-based regimen including sodium picosulfate, magnesium oxide, and citric acid.
What if I still poop in the morning for colonoscopy prep? ›
What if I've taken all my preparation and am still passing solid stool on the day of my exam? In this case, your procedure will need to be rescheduled. You may be prescribed a different preparation for your next procedure. Please call the triage nurse to reschedule your procedure with a different preparation.
Do you drink a whole bottle of MiraLAX before a colonoscopy? ›
At 6:00 PM The Day Before Your Colonoscopy:
o Mix the entire 238-gram bottle of MiraLAX in 64 oz of Gatorade or Gatorade-2. o Shake/mix the solution until the MiraLAX has dissolved. o Drink one glass (8 oz.) of the MiraLAX solution every 10-15 minutes until the entire solution is gone.
Day before the procedure:
Upon wakening, take four (4) Dulcolax tablets (laxative), with a large glass of water. In the evening, at 6 p.m., drink the entire content of the first bottle of magnesium citrate.
How can you tell if your colon is empty? ›
How can you tell if your colon is clean and ready for a colonoscopy? Your stool after finishing your bowel prep agent can act as a guide. Your stool should be clear, yellow, light and liquid. The presence of dark particles or thick brown or black stool means you are not ready for colonoscopy.
What causes colonoscopy prep to fail? ›
Low socioeconomic status, drugs, ASA ≥3, nausea and vomiting, or older age have been reported as risk factors for poor bowel cleansing (55).
How do you know if your colon is clean enough for a colonoscopy? ›
If your last bowel movements were clear enough that you were able to see the bottom of the toilet you should be fine. You must, however, continue to drink ALL of the prep solution.
What happens if you can't drink colonoscopy prep fast enough? ›
Some colonoscopy preps are taken in one evening, others may be a “split-dose” and taken between an evening and the following morning. If you think you can't drink your colonoscopy prep, a “split-dose” is a good option because it tends to be more tolerable.
Can you take miralax and Dulcolax at the same time? ›
You should avoid using these medications together unless specifically recommended or prescribed by your doctor. Talk to your doctor if you have any questions or concerns.
What is the best laxative to take before a colonoscopy? ›
Dulcolax® (bisacodyl) laxative tablets (not suppository or stool softener, you will need 3 tablets for the prep). MiraLAX® 238 grams (8.3 ounces) powder or generic polyethylene glycol 3350 (can find in laxative section).
What else can I mix miralax with for colonoscopy prep? ›
MORNING: Mix 238g bottle of Miralax® with 64oz of liquid (i.e. water, Gatorade®, Crystal Light®, apple juice) and place in refrigerator. NO RED OR PURPLE COLORS! 2:00PM: Begin drinking the Miralax® solution. Drink an 8oz cup every 15 min until the first 32oz is gone.
What is the new bowel prep for colonoscopy? ›
SUTAB is a sulfate-based tablet colonoscopy preparation that is taken orally in a split-dose administration starting the evening before a colonoscopy.
