The quality of your bowel preparation will determine the quality and accuracy of your colonoscopy. Poor bowel preparation will significantly hinder the usefulness of the test and failure to complete bowel preparation may lead to cancelation of your procedure

  • Consult your doctor about your regular medications. Blood thinning medications and some diabetes medications may need to be stopped days prior to your procedures. Failure to do this may lead to cancelation
  • Stop taking iron tablets
  • You can’t go home alone after the procedure. Please arrange for a family member or a friend to drive you home
  • PicoPrep (3 sachets) can be purchased from pharmacy without the need for a prescription
  • Bowel preparation will differ depending on the timing of your procedure (morning procedures or afternoon procedures)

Morning procedures (8am-12pm)

The day before your colonoscopy:

Have a light breakfast – prior to 8am – no food is to be consumed after this time.

  • After breakfast, only clear fluids are allowed. For example: Water apple juice / lemonade / mineral water / clear broth / tea or coffee with no milk / Lemon / pineapple / orange jelly
  • Dissolve each sachet of PicoPrep with a glass of warm water. This can be refrigerated preferred
  • Take PicoPrep at the following times:
    • 2pm
    • 5pm
    • 8pm
  • Each cup of PicoPrep should be followed by 3-4 cups of water or clear fluids
  • Make sure a minimum of two hours between doses of PicoPrep

The day of your colonoscopy:

You can continue clear fluids until 6am then nil by mouth.

Click here to download a printable version of this procedure.

Afternoon procedures (1pm-5pm)

The day before your colonoscopy:

Have a light breakfast – prior to 8am – no food is to be consumed after this time.

  • After breakfast, only clear fluids are allowed. For example: Water apple juice / lemonade / mineral water / clear broth / tea or coffee with no milk/ lemon / pineapple / orange jelly
  • Dissolve each sachet of PicoPrep with a glass of warm water. This can be refrigerated if preferred
  • Take PicoPrep at the following times:
    • 4pm
    • 8pm
  • Each cup of PicoPrep should be followed by 3-4 cups of water of clear fluids

The day of your colonoscopy:

At 8am, take the final cup of PicoPrep, followed by 3-4 cups of water or clear fluid

You can continue clear fluids until 10.00am then nil by mouth.

Click here to download a printable version of this procedure.