Portland Gastroenterology Center

161 Marginal Way • Portland, Maine 04101 • 207-773-7964
Standard GoLYTELY® Prep
Please read through the instructions at least one week before your procedure.

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

Download these Prep Instructions for Printing

About Your Appointment

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.

Medication Instructions

  • 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 1⁄2 your morning insulin dose. Bring the other 1⁄2 with you.

Stop the following medications until after your procedure as directed below

  • 7 days before your procedure
    • Iron supplements, Fiber supplements (e.g. Metamucil®, Citrucel®)
    • Weekly dosed GLP-1 agonists
      • Trulicity®(Dulaglutide)
      • Adipex-P®/Lomaira® (Phentermine)
      • Bydureon® BCise®(Exenatide ER)
      • Mounjaro®/Zepbound® (Tirzepatide)
      • Ozempic®/Wegovy®(Semaglutide)
      • Qsymia® (Phentermine/Topiramate)
  • The day before your procedure
    • Anti-diarrheal medications
      • Questran® (cholestyramine)
      • Lomotil®
      • Imodium® (loperamide)
      • Colestid® (colestipol)
  • The day of your procedure
    • Daily dosed GLP-1 agonists
      • Adlyxin® (Lixisenatide)
      • Saxenda®/Victoza® (Liraglutide)
      • Byetta® (Exenatide IR)
      • Rybelsus® (Semaglutide),
    • Morning dose of oral diabetic medication (Bring it with you)

Step-by-Step Preparation Instructions

1 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.
    • 1 4-liter bottle 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.

Day BEFORE Colonoscopy for ALL

  • Before 11 am
    • 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 the 4-liter bottle. 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.
  • After 11am
    • No solid foods until after the procedure.
    • Continue to drink clear fluids until 3 hours prior to your procedure. This is important. Hydrate!

For Colonoscopies before 10am

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

For Colonoscopies later than 10am

  • At 6 pm the day before
    • Drink 8 ounces of the GoLYTELY® or GaviLyte-G™ solution every 15-30 minutes until you have finished half (64 ounces)
    • After you are done with the solution, take two Gas-X® or simethicone tablets.
    • Continue to drink clear fluids up to 3 hours prior to your procedure. This is important. Hydrate!
    • Review Colonoscopy preparation tips to determine if you are ready for your colonoscopy.

Day of the Procedure

  • 4 to 5 hours before your procedure time
    • Drink 8 ounces of the GoLYTELY® or GaviLyte-G™ mixture every 15-30 minutes until you have finished the other half (64 oz.) of the solution.
    • Take two Gas-X® or simethicone tablets.
    • Continue to drink clear fluids up to 3 hours prior to your procedure. This is important. Hydrate!
    • Review Colonoscopy preparation tips to determine if you are ready for your colonoscopy.

Please review the following prior to starting your prep

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 colonoscopy. Without a good prep—your bowel empty and clean—your gastroenterologist will not be able to see your colon clearly. This could lead to missing a polyp or having to reschedule your colonoscopy.

Here are photos that show the difference between a good prep and a bad prep so you can see why it’s essential.

 

What are the risks of a colonoscopy?

Colonoscopies are standard medical procedures. Although rare, as with all procedures, colonoscopies have some risks.

  • The instrument may tear the wall of the colon which may require surgery to repair.
  • There may be adverse drug reactions or heart/breathing complications.
  • Bleeding may occur and is more often a risk when tissue or polyps are removed.
  • There may be discomfort during and after the procedure.