Colonoscopy
Gastrointestinal Endoscopy · Colorectal Cancer Screening
Colorectal Cancer Screening & Colonoscopy
Colorectal cancer is one of the most preventable cancers when caught early. The USPSTF and the American Cancer Society recommend that adults at average risk begin colorectal cancer screening at age 45 (earlier with family history or symptoms).
During a colonoscopy, your surgeon examines the lining of the colon and rectum using a flexible high-definition scope while you are comfortably sedated, and removes precancerous polyps before they can develop into cancer.
Colonoscopy Patient Information (PDFs)
Review the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) Colonoscopy Patient Information brochure and our Colorectal Cancer Awareness guide:
Official Charlotte Harbor Surgical Patient Instructions · Easy-to-Read Large Print
Colonoscopy Prep Instructions (Plain-English Step-by-Step Guide)
Getting your colon completely clean is the most important part of a safe, accurate colonoscopy. We have written these instructions in plain, everyday English so you can follow each step with confidence. Everything you need for your bowel prep is sold over the counter at any pharmacy—no prescription is needed.
1-Day Colonoscopy Prep
You start drinking your prep the morning BEFORE your colonoscopy.
- Uses two (2) 10 oz bottles of Citrate of Magnesia + four (4) 5 mg tablets of brand-name Dulcolax® Laxative
- Clear liquids all day the day before your procedure
2-Day Colonoscopy Prep
You drink 1 extra bottle TWO days before your colonoscopy at 9:00 AM, plus the full prep the day before.
- Uses three (3) 10 oz bottles of Citrate of Magnesia + four (4) 5 mg tablets of brand-name Dulcolax® Laxative
- Regular food 2 days before; clear liquids all day 1 day before
Not sure whether you are doing the 1-Day Prep or the 2-Day Prep? Check the top of the instruction sheet our office gave you, or call our office at (941) 391-5102 (Mon–Thu 7:30 am–4:00 pm, Fri 7:30 am–12:00 pm) and we will gladly check your chart.
⚠️ Important Rule: Follow ONLY Our Office’s Instructions — Do NOT Follow the Laxative Box!
Please follow the exact times and doses on this page given by your surgeon’s staff. Do NOT follow the directions printed on the Citrate of Magnesia bottle or the Dulcolax box. Taking the prep differently than instructed may leave your colon unclear and may cause your colonoscopy to be cancelled.
Step 1: What to Buy at the Pharmacy (No Prescription Needed)
You can buy all of your prep supplies right off the shelf in the laxative aisle and grocery aisle at any pharmacy or supermarket (such as Publix, Walgreens, CVS, or Walmart):
🛒 Shopping List for 1-Day Prep
- Two (2) 10-ounce bottles of Citrate of Magnesia (also called Magnesium Citrate).
Must have NO red coloring (pick clear or lemon-lime flavor). Put both bottles in the refrigerator the night before so they are ice-cold! - One (1) small box of brand-name Dulcolax® LAXATIVE tablets (5 mg each) — you will take four (4) tablets at 2:00 PM.
IMPORTANT: Buy brand-name Dulcolax® Laxative tablets — DO NOT use generic, and make sure the box says “Laxative” (bisacodyl 5 mg), not “Dulcolax Stool Softener.” - Plenty of Clear Liquids for the day before your procedure (see the Approved Clear Liquids box below — NO red coloring).
🛒 Shopping List for 2-Day Prep
- Three (3) 10-ounce bottles of Citrate of Magnesia (also called Magnesium Citrate).
Must have NO red coloring (pick clear or lemon-lime flavor). You will drink 1 bottle two days before and 2 bottles the day before. Chill each bottle in the refrigerator overnight! - One (1) small box of brand-name Dulcolax® LAXATIVE tablets (5 mg each) — you will take four (4) tablets at 2:00 PM the day before.
IMPORTANT: Buy brand-name Dulcolax® Laxative tablets — DO NOT use generic, and make sure the box says “Laxative” (bisacodyl 5 mg), not “Dulcolax Stool Softener.” - Plenty of Clear Liquids for the day before your procedure (see the Approved Clear Liquids box below — NO red coloring).
Step 2: Medications to Pause & Ride Home (7 Days to 1 Day Before)
Certain everyday medicines make anesthesia unsafe or increase the risk of bleeding if your doctor removes a polyp. Follow this countdown carefully:
Stop All GLP-1 & Weight-Loss Medications 7 Days Prior
Why in plain English: These weekly injections and daily pills slow down how fast food leaves your stomach. If food stays in your stomach during anesthesia, it can come up into your lungs (called aspiration).
Stop 7 days before your procedure: Ozempic® / Wegovy® / Rybelsus® (semaglutide), Mounjaro® / Zepbound® (tirzepatide), Trulicity® (dulaglutide), Victoza® / Saxenda® (liraglutide), Byetta® / Bydureon® (exenatide), Adlyxin® (lixisenatide), and any other GLP-1 or weight-loss medication.
Prescription Blood Thinners — Check Your Exact Stop Date
Do NOT automatically stop all prescription blood thinners 5 days prior. Hold times depend on your specific medication and how quickly it leaves your body:
- Often held 2 days before: Eliquis® (apixaban) or Xarelto® (rivaroxaban)
- Often held 5 days (or as directed) before: Plavix® (clopidogrel), Coumadin® / Jantoven® (warfarin), Effient® (prasugrel), or Brilinta® (ticagrelor)
Always follow the exact number of days instructed by our office or your prescribing doctor. If you are unsure of your exact stop date, please call our office at (941) 391-5102.
Stop Aspirin & Over-the-Counter Anti-Inflammatory Pain Pills (NSAIDs) 5 Days Prior
Why in plain English: Aspirin and anti-inflammatory pain relievers thin your blood and can cause bleeding if your doctor removes a polyp during your colonoscopy.
Avoid for 5 days before your procedure: Aspirin, any Aspirin products, Ibuprofen, Motrin®, Excedrin®, Advil®, and Aleve®.
✓ What CAN I take if I have a headache or joint pain? You MAY take Tylenol® (acetaminophen).
Hold These Specific Diabetes Medications 4 Days Prior
Please hold the following diabetes pills 4 days before your procedure:
Invokana® (canagliflozin) · Farxiga® (dapagliflozin) · Jardiance® (empagliflozin) · Brenzavvy® (bexagliflozin) · Steglatro® (ertugliflozin)
Important for diabetics: Please monitor your blood sugars closely on the day of your bowel preparation and on the morning of your procedure.
Hold ADD or ADHD Medications 3 Days Prior
Hold all A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. medications (for example, Adderall®) for 3 days prior to your procedure or surgery.
Expect a Call from the Facility & Confirm Your Driver Going Home
- Facility Phone Call (About 1 Day Prior): Your procedure facility (Murdock Surgery Center or AdventHealth Port Charlotte) will call you approximately 1 day before your procedure to give you your exact arrival time and tell you which morning medications (if any) to take the morning of your procedure.
- You MUST Have a Driver & Companion: Because you will be given sedation (sleep medicine) for a comfortable exam, you will NOT be permitted to drive yourself home. You must arrange for a responsible adult to accompany you and drive you home.
Step 3: The Clear Liquid Diet (What You CAN and CANNOT Drink)
On the entire day before your colonoscopy (Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner), you will be on a Clear Liquid Diet. In plain English, a “clear liquid” is a liquid you can see light through—with no pulp, no milk or cream, and no solid food. You may have any of the 14 items below throughout the day (you do not have to drink all of them). Diet and regular versions are both okay.
✅ OK to Drink & Eat (All Day the Day Before)
Choose from any of these 14 approved items — NO RED COLORING:
- Jell-O® (plain — no fruit inside, no red)
- Gatorade® (yellow, lemon-lime, clear/glacier — no red)
- Bouillon / Clear Broth (clear chicken, beef, or vegetable broth — liquid only, no noodles or meat)
- Apple Juice
- White Grape Juice
- Popsicles (no red, no fruit pieces or dairy)
- Fruit Ice / Italian Ice (without fruit pieces, no red)
- Ginger Ale
- Sprite®
- 7-Up®
- Pepsi® / Coke®
- Black Coffee (strictly WITHOUT cream, milk, half-and-half, or milk substitutes)
- Clear Tea (strictly WITHOUT cream, milk, or milk substitutes)
- Water (plain or carbonated)
🚫 DO NOT Eat or Drink
Strictly avoid all of the following:
- OMIT ANYTHING WITH RED COLORING: No red Jell-O, red Gatorade, red popsicles, cranberry juice, or red sports drinks. (Red dye stays on the colon wall and can look like blood during your exam!)
- NO Solid Food at All on the day before your procedure (no breakfast, lunch, or dinner solids).
- NO Milk, Cream, or Non-Dairy Creamers: Do not put milk, half-and-half, powdered creamer, almond milk, oat milk, or soy milk in your coffee or tea.
- NO Orange Juice with Pulp, Smoothies, or Fruit Pieces.
- NO Alcoholic Beverages Allowed (Item #15: no beer, wine, or liquor).
- NOTHING by Mouth After Midnight the night before your procedure (unless instructed by the facility).
Step 4: Follow Your Exact Hour-by-Hour Prep Schedule
1-Day Colonoscopy Prep Schedule (Citrate of Magnesia)
Requires two (2) 10 oz bottles of Citrate of Magnesia + four (4) 5 mg brand-name Dulcolax® Laxative tablets.
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2 Nights BeforeEveningChill Your 2 Bottles in the Refrigerator Overnight
Put both 10 oz bottles of Citrate of Magnesia in the refrigerator the night before your prep day so they are cold and easier to drink tomorrow.
-
1 Day BeforeAll Day (Wake-Up)Clear Liquid Diet ONLY — Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (No Solid Food!)
From the moment you wake up the day before your procedure, eat NO solid food. Drink only from the Approved Clear Liquids list above (water, broth, apple juice, yellow/clear Gatorade, ginger ale, Sprite, 7-Up, Pepsi/Coke, black coffee or clear tea without cream, plain Jell-O, or popsicles). OMIT ANYTHING WITH RED COLORING. No alcohol.
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1 Day Before9:00 AMDrink Your 1st Bottle (10 oz) of Cold Citrate of Magnesia
At 9:00 AM, drink one full 10-ounce bottle of cold Citrate of Magnesia. Follow it with a full glass of water or approved clear liquid. (Stay near a comfortable bathroom as the laxative begins working.)
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1 Day Before2:00 PMTake Four (4) 5 mg Brand-Name Dulcolax® LAXATIVE Tablets All at Once
At 2:00 PM, swallow four (4) 5 mg Dulcolax® LAXATIVE tablets all at the same time with a glass of water or clear liquid. DO NOT USE GENERIC.
-
1 Day Before6:00 PMDrink Your 2nd Bottle (10 oz) of Cold Citrate of Magnesia + Drink Clear Liquids Every Hour
At 6:00 PM, drink your second 10-ounce bottle of cold Citrate of Magnesia.
Very Important: Try to drink clear liquids every hour from 6:00 PM right up until bedtime to prevent low blood sugar and dehydration, and to flush your colon completely clean. -
Night Before12:00 MidnightSTOP — NOTHING after Midnight the Night Before Your Procedure
Do not eat or drink anything after 12:00 Midnight (including water, gum, or mints), unless the surgery center or hospital specifically instructed you to take an essential morning pill with a tiny sip of water. Bring your driver with you to the facility!
2-Day Colonoscopy Prep Schedule (Citrate of Magnesia)
Requires three (3) 10 oz bottles of Citrate of Magnesia + four (4) 5 mg brand-name Dulcolax® Laxative tablets.
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3 Nights BeforeEveningChill Bottle #1 in the Refrigerator Overnight
Put your first 10 oz bottle of Citrate of Magnesia in the refrigerator overnight so it is cold for 9:00 AM tomorrow.
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2 Days Before9:00 AMDrink Bottle #1 (10 oz) of Cold Citrate of Magnesia (Normal Diet Today!)
2 days prior to your procedure at 9:00 AM, drink one 10-ounce bottle of cold Citrate of Magnesia.
Good news: There is NO need to change your diet on this day—you may eat your regular meals 2 days before your procedure. That evening, put your remaining two (2) 10 oz bottles of Citrate of Magnesia in the refrigerator overnight. -
1 Day BeforeAll Day (Wake-Up)Clear Liquid Diet ONLY — Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner (No Solid Food!)
From the moment you wake up 1 day before your procedure, eat NO solid food. Have only items from the Approved Clear Liquids list above. OMIT ANYTHING WITH RED COLORING. No alcohol.
-
1 Day Before9:00 AMDrink Bottle #2 (10 oz) of Cold Citrate of Magnesia
The day prior to your procedure at 9:00 AM, drink a 10-ounce bottle of cold Citrate of Magnesia (refrigerated overnight). Follow with a full glass of water or clear liquid.
-
1 Day Before2:00 PMTake Four (4) 5 mg Brand-Name Dulcolax® LAXATIVE Tablets All at Once
At 2:00 PM, take four (4) 5 mg Dulcolax® LAXATIVE tablets, all at the same time, with water or clear liquid. DO NOT USE GENERIC.
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1 Day Before6:00 PMDrink Bottle #3 (Final 10 oz Bottle) of Cold Citrate of Magnesia + Clear Liquids Every Hour
At 6:00 PM, drink your final 10-ounce bottle of cold Citrate of Magnesia (refrigerated overnight).
Very Important: Try to drink clear liquids every hour from 6:00 PM right up until bedtime to prevent low blood sugar and dehydration. -
Night Before12:00 MidnightSTOP — Nothing to Eat or Drink by Mouth After Midnight
Nothing to eat or drink by mouth after 12:00 Midnight the night before your procedure (unless instructed by the facility for essential morning pills). Bring your driver with you to the facility!
Questions, Cancellations & Rescheduling Policy
If you have any questions about your prep or medications, please call Charlotte Harbor Surgical at (941) 391-5102 (Monday–Thursday 7:30 am–4:00 pm, Friday 7:30 am–12:00 pm).
- If you are unable to keep your office visit appointment, we ask for 24 hours’ notice.
- If you need to reschedule your colonoscopy / procedure / surgery, we ask for 48 hours’ notice.
- Cancellation charges may apply if timely notice is not given or if there are multiple cancellations/reschedules. A $50.00 rescheduling fee applies for any rescheduling of your procedure unless indicated by your provider.
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Suffering from Bleeding, Itching, or Prolapsing Hemorrhoids? Ask About HemWell™
We now offer HemWell™ (Hemwellectomy)—an FDA-cleared, non-thermal, minimally invasive hemorrhoid treatment that gently shrinks internal hemorrhoids (Grades I through IV) from the inside without cutting, burning, stitches, or lengthy recovery.
- Done Right During Your Colonoscopy: Takes ~10–15 minutes while you are already comfortably asleep—no extra prep and no extra trip
- Minimal Pain & Little Downtime: Uses gentle, pacemaker-level microcurrent energy that preserves the sensitive rectal lining so most patients return to normal activity the same or next day
- Over 90% Effective in 1 Session: Treats all 4 grades (I–IV) and multiple hemorrhoids at once · Covered by Medicare & most major insurers (CPT 46945 / 46946)
Why Patients Choose HemWell™
| FDA-Cleared | All Grades I, II, III & IV |
|---|---|
| Comfort | Minimal Pain (no cutting or burning) |
| Recovery | Same Day / 1–2 Days |
| Sessions | Usually Just 1 (during colonoscopy) |
| Insurance | Medicare & Most Plans (CPT 46945/46946) |
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Brown
Call Charlotte Harbor Surgical in Port Charlotte. Mon–Thu 7:30 am–4:00 pm, Fri 7:30 am–12:00 noon.