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It also explains when to stop or continue specific medications, morning-of instructions, driving restrictions after sedation, estimated procedure timing, and steps for managing soreness and dietary cautions like alcohol.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/colonoscopy-frequently-asked-questions/402452/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/colonoscopy-frequently-asked-questions/402452.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"WPS_1790064749","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-11-05","2026-09-27",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",18,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"Do I need to drink all of the bowel prep solution?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Yes. The colon must be completely clean to properly see the lining. Inadequate cleaning can make it harder to find polyps or cancer and may lead to incomplete exams.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What side effects are expected from bowel prep?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"Bowel prep is meant to cause diarrhea, usually starting within a few hours after drinking the solution. Some people also have bloating, nausea, and abdominal discomfort, which is normal.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"Which medicines should I stop taking before my procedure?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Stop vitamins, oral iron, and herbal supplements 7 days before. If taking warfarin, contact the Anti-coagulation Clinic for guidance. Discuss stopping dabigatran and clopidogrel with your doctor (often about 48 hours for dabigatran and about 5 days for clopidogrel).","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},402452,1790618166,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,96,101,106,110,115,120,123,127],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":93,"show_sort_weight":94,"slug":95},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":97,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":98,"show_sort_weight":99,"slug":100},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":102,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":103,"show_sort_weight":104,"slug":105},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":107,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":111,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":112,"show_sort_weight":113,"slug":114},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":116,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":117,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":119},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":118,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":121,"show_sort_weight":118,"slug":122},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":124,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":125,"show_sort_weight":124,"slug":126},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":128,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":129,"show_sort_weight":97,"slug":130},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":132},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":133,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":134,"doc_module":4,"category_id":107,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":135,"file_id":136,"file_url":137,"file_type":138,"file_size":139,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":30,"language":140,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":141,"faqs":142,"seo_title":143,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":144,"read_time":111,"preview_page_count":4},3985747859154,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_276721f389ce27ea32af1340a28f341c","HEALTH ENGAGEMENT  \nCOLONOSCOPY:  \nFREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS  \nFor more information  \nVisit [kp.org/health](kp.org/health)  \n• Read about colonoscopy in the health encyclopedia.  \nCall a Kaiser Permanente Medical Advice Nurse  \n• Talk to a medical advice nurse 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call (703) 359-7878 or (800) 777-7904, TTY 711.  \n• For additional information, questions, or to cancel your appointment call the phone number found under the location for your procedure on the last page of these instructions.  \nHEALTH NOTES  \nDo I need to drink all of the bowel prep solution?  \nYes. The colon must be completely clean to properly see the lining of the colon. A colon that is not properly cleaned may make it hard to find colon polyps and colon cancer. This may lead to incomplete exams, missed polyps and a need to repeat the exam at an earlier time.  \nWhat are the side effects of the bowel prep?  \nThe bowel prep is meant to cause diarrhea. This will usually start within a few hours after drinking your prep solution. Plan to be home and near a bathroom. Some people have bloating, nausea and abdominal discomfort. This is normal. Do not be alarmed if you have these symptoms.  \nWhat if I don’t like the taste and cannot take all of the prep?  \nIf you do not like the taste, try to add a powdered flavoring to the solution like Gatorade, Crystal Light or Lemonade. Avoid red or purple colored flavoring.  \nIf you feel nauseous, take a short break from drinking the prep. You may also try drinking something warm such as tea. The warmth can sometimes settle the stomach. As soon as the nausea goes away, continue to drink clear liquids to prevent cramping. Also when you restart the drinking process, try drink the prep more slowly.  \nYou can also try to drink the prep solution through a straw. Then rinse your mouth out with water right away to limit the unpleasant taste some will have.  \nIf you absolutely cannot complete the solution, please call the Kaiser Advice Nurse at (703) 359-7878 to cancel the procedure.  \nIf I am already having diarrhea, do I still have to drink all of the prep?  \nYes, you must drink ALL of the prep as directed. Your colon is about 5 feet long. Your whole colon must be emptied by drinking this prep solution so your Gastroenterologist can perform a high quality colonoscopy.  \nI see yellow color in the toilet bowl and a few flecks, what do I do?  \nIf your last bowel movements were clear enough to see through to the bottom of the toilet you should be fine. You must still continue to drink ALL of the prep solution. It is ok if you have some flecks of material. The yellow color is from the bile that normally colors the feces. This shouldn’t interfere with the exam.  \nMy prep has not started to work yet.  \nIs that OK?  \nEveryone’s response to the bowel prep varies. Some people start having diarrhea within an hour of drinking the solution. Others have no response for a few hours. Be patient and continue with drinking the prep as instructed.  \nWhich medicines should I stop taking before my procedure?  \n• Stop taking vitamins, oral iron, and herbal supplements 7 days before your procedure.  \n• If you are on warfarin (Coumadin), please talk with the Anti-coagulation Clinic for guidance about when to stop this medicine.  \n• Consult with your doctor about when to stop dabigatran (Pradaxa usually 48 hours), clopidogrel (Plavix usually 5 days) .  \nWhich medicines am I allowed to take?  \n• Tylenol is OK to continue taking.  \n• You do not need to stop your daily aspirin, as it is safe to perform endoscopic procedures while taking aspirin.  \n• It is safe to perform endoscopic procedures while using anti-inflammatory medicines such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and naproxen (Aleve) . We do recommend you limit their use (if possible) within 7 days before the procedure.  \n• Continue to use any inhalers as normal. Please be sure and bring all of your inhalers to your procedure, as you may be asked to use them just before your exam.  \nWha","cbCaisz6fXvJq4Oa","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaisz6fXvJq4Oa","pdf",79556,"English","# Do I need to drink all of the bowel prep solution?\n# What are the side effects of the bowel prep?\n# What if I don’t like the taste and cannot take all of the prep?\n# If I am already having diarrhea, do I still have to drink all of the prep?\n# Which medicines should I stop taking before my procedure?\n# Which medicines am I allowed to take?\n# What medicines should I take on the day of my colonoscopy?\n# What do I need to remember on the morning of my appointment?\n# Why can’t I drive myself home after the procedure?\n# How long will the test take?\n# My bottom is sore. What can I do?\n# Can I drink alcoholic beverages?","[{\"question\":\"Do I need to drink all of the bowel prep solution?\",\"answer\":\"Yes. The colon must be completely clean to properly see the lining. Inadequate cleaning can make it harder to find polyps or cancer and may lead to incomplete exams.\"},{\"question\":\"What side effects are expected from bowel prep?\",\"answer\":\"Bowel prep is meant to cause diarrhea, usually starting within a few hours after drinking the solution. Some people also have bloating, nausea, and abdominal discomfort, which is normal.\"},{\"question\":\"Which medicines should I stop taking before my procedure?\",\"answer\":\"Stop vitamins, oral iron, and herbal supplements 7 days before. If taking warfarin, contact the Anti-coagulation Clinic for guidance. Discuss stopping dabigatran and clopidogrel with your doctor (often about 48 hours for dabigatran and about 5 days for clopidogrel).\"}]","Colonoscopy - Frequently Asked Questions | PDF",1790530690]