Portland Gastroenterology Center

161 Marginal Way • Portland, Maine 04101 • 207-773-7964

Extended GoLYTELY Prep

If you have any questions, please call 207-773-7964.

Download these Prep Instructions for Printing

A responsible adult will need to drive you home. Taxis, Ubers, buses, medical ride services, or walking are not options unless a responsible adult accompanies you. You will not be able to drive for the rest of the day.

Plan on being at our facility for about 1 1⁄2 hours from arrival to departure (although this may vary depending on the day/procedure/location – ex. approx. 2.5 hrs for MMC)

For appointments with a scheduled arrival time of 4:00 pm or later, have your ride plan to be at the facility no later than 5:30 pm.

If you are unable to keep your appointment, please call at least 3 business days prior to your procedure to reschedule. We reserve the right to charge a penalty fee for patients who “no show” or cancel without adequate notice.

  • Aside from the medications below, we recommend you take all home medications as usual with a small amount of water, at least 3 hours before your arrival time.
  • If you take blood thinners (Plavix®, warfarin, Eliquis®, Xarelto®, etc.) and haven’t been given directions to stop them by our office or your prescribing physician’s office, please call us to clarify. It is ok to continue your Aspirin.
  • Take ½ your morning insulin dose. Bring the other ½ with you.

Stop the following medications until after your procedure as directed below:

7 DAYS BEFORE

  • Iron supplements
  • Fiber supplements (e.g. Metamucil®, Citrucel®)
  • Weekly-dosed GLP-1 agonists
    • Trulicity® (Dulagultide)
    • Bydureon®
    • BCise® (Exenatide ER)
    • Ozempic® / Wegovy® (Semaglutide)
    • Mounjaro® / Zepbound® (Tirzepatide)
  • Adipex-P® / Lomaira® (Phentermine)
  • Qsymia® (Phentermine/Topiramate)

THE DAY BEFORE

  • Questran® (cholestyramine)
  • Lomotil®
  • Imodium® (loperamide)
  • Colestid® (colestipol)

DAY OF PROCEDURE

  • Daily-dosed GLP-1 agonists
    • Saxenda® / Victoza® (Liraglutide)
    • Byetta® (Exenatide IR)
    • Rybelsus® (Semaglutide)
    • Adlyxin® (Lixisenatide)
  • Morning dose of oral diabetic medication (bring it with you)

NOTHING BY MOUTH 3 HOURS BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE

Step-by-Step Preparation Instructions

1 Week Before Colonoscopy

  • Stop eating seeds, nuts, popcorn, tomatoes, corn, berries, granola with dried fruit, raisins
  • Purchase the following items:
    • 1 box Simethicone or Gas-X® tablets, either 125 mg or 180 mg tablets.
    • 2 4-liter bottles of GoLYTELY® or GaviLyte-G™. You will pick this up at your pharmacy. A prescription will be called in.
  • Call the office if you are pregnant, have an internal cardiac defibrillator, have had a recent cardiac procedure, or have a new cardiac health concern.
  • Review the Medication Instructions above.

2 Days Prior to Colonoscopy

Before 1:00 pm

  • Eat a light Breakfast from the following list of foods:
    • A boiled or poached egg
    • Applesauce
    • Yogurt (no granola or fruit chunks in it)
    • Skinless chicken/turkey/fish
    • Cottage cheese
    • White bread or white toast without butter
    • Plain tofu
  • If adding a flavor packet that comes with the GoLYTELY® or GaviLyte-G™:
    • Open the packet and pour the contents into each of the 4-liter bottles.
    • Add lukewarm water to the gallon mark.
    • Shake or stir the solution until it is mixed, and place in the fridge
    • It is tolerated better when cold.

At 1:00 pm

  • Do not eat solid foods until after your procedure.
  • Continue to drink clear fluids until 3 hours prior to your procedure. This is important. Hydrate!
  • Drink 8-ounces of the GoLYTELY® or GaviLyte-G™ solution every 15-30 minutes until one of the 4-liter bottles of solution is gone.
  • Continue to drink clear fluids until 3 hours prior to your procedure. This is important. Hydrate!

Day Before Colonoscopy

At 1:00 pm

  • Drink 8-ounces of the GoLYTELY® or GaviLyte-G™ solution every 15-30 minutes until the second 4-liter bottle of solution is gone.
  • After you are done with the solution, take two Gas-X® or simethicone tablets.
  • Continue to drink clear fluids until 3 hours prior to your procedure. This is important. Hydrate!
  • Review Colonoscopy preparation tips to determine if you are ready for your colonoscopy

Examples of clear liquids

  • Popsicles, EXCEPT for red, purple, or blue
  • Coconut water (NOT coconut milk)
  • Gatorade®
  • Kool-Aid®
  • Strained fruit juice (apple or white grape)
  • Jell-O®
  • Coffee and tea (without dairy products/creamer)
  • Soft drinks

 

Tips

If you start to feel nauseous while prepping, try:

  • Pause drinking the prep until the feeling improves, then resume
  • Decrease the amount you drink at a time
  • Take more time between drinks
  • Refrigerate the prep mixture
  • Use a straw

Prep goal: your stool should be clear and yellow. This chart will help you judge your progress!

Your prep is one of the most important parts of your procedure. Without a good prep—your bowel is empty and clear—your gastroenterologist will not be able to see your colon clearly. This could lead to missing a polyp or having to reschedule your procedure.

One Week Prior to Colonoscopy

  • Stop eating seeds, nuts, popcorn, tomatoes, corn, berries, granola with dried fruit, raisins
  • Purchase the following items:
    • 1 box Simethicone or Gas-X® tablets, either 125 mg or 180 mg tablets.
    • 2 4-liter bottles of GoLYTELY® or GaviLyte™-G. You will pick this up at your pharmacy. A prescription will be called in.
  • Call the office if you are pregnant, have an internal cardiac defibrillator, had a recent cardiac procedure or a new cardiac health concern.
  • Review the Medication Instructions above.

Two Days Before Colonoscopy

  • Before 1pm
    • Eat a light breakfast from the following list of foods:
      • Boiled or poached egg
      • Applesauce
      • Yogurt (no granola or fruit chunks in it)
      • Skinless chicken, turkey or fish
      • Cottage cheese
      • White bread or toast without butter
      • Plain tofu
    • If adding a flavor packet that comes with the GoLYTELY® or GaviLyte™-G
      • Open the packet and pour the contents into each of the 4-liter bottles
      • Add lukewarm water to the gallon mark
      • Shake or stir the solution until it is mixed
      • Place in the refrigerator (it is tolerated better when it is cold)
  • At 1pm
    • Do not eat solid foods until after your procedure
    • Continue to drink clear fluids until 3 hours prior to your procedure (this is important – hydrate!)
    • Drink 8 ounces of the GoLytely® or GaviLyte™-G solution every 15-30 minutes until one of the 4-liter bottles of solution is gone

The Day Before Your Colonoscopy

  • At 1pm
    • Drink 8 ounces of the GoLytely® or GaviLyte™-G solution every 15-30 minutes until the second 4-liter bottle of solution is gone
    • After you are done with the solution, take two Gas-X® or simethicone tablets
    • Continue to drink clear fluids until 3 hours prior to your procedure. This is important. Hydrate!
    • Review colonoscopy preparation tips to determine if you are ready for your colonoscopy

NOTHING BY MOUTH 3 HOURS BEFORE YOUR PROCEDURE