This information is approved and/or reviewed by U-M Health System providers but it is not a tool for self-diagnosis or a substitute for medical treatment. You should speak to your physician or make an appointment to be seen if you have questions or concerns about this information or your medical condition.| Complete disclaimer
Preparation for Capsule Endoscopy
What to buy ahead of time for the prep:
- One 238-gram bottle of polyethylene glycol 3350 powder (Miralax or Glycolax, available over the counter)
- Two 32-ounce bottles of lemon/lime Gatorade G2 (total of 64 ounces). Must be Gatorade G2. Do not substitute. No red, orange, blue, or purple.
- Additional clear liquids, such as water, apple juice, white grape juice, black coffee, tea, lemon/lime Kool-Aid, soda pop (colas, 7UP, sprite), lemon/lime Jell-O. You may not drink red, orange, blue, or purple liquids, including Jell-O.
- PLEASE NOTE: If you have liver, kidney, or heart disease, do not use this prep. Contact the doctor who ordered the procedure for an alternate prep.
What to do one week (7 days) before the procedure:
- Do not take iron supplements for one week (7 days) before the procedure.
What to do the day before the procedure:
- You many eat a normal breakfast and lunch the day before the capsule procedure. After lunch, you may have only clear liquids (examples listed above).
- About 7:00 pm, mix half the polyethylene glycol powder with one 32-ounce bottle of Gatorade and drink all 32 ounces over the next hour or so. About 9:00 pm, mix the other half of the polyethylene glycol powder with the second 32-ounce bottle of Gatorade and drink all 32 ounces over the next hour or so.
- You may drink as many glasses of clear liquids (examples listed above) as you like during the afternoon and evening on the day before the procedure.
- Remain close to a bathroom because drinking this prep will give you diarrhea, usually within an hour of starting. The goal is for your stools to be clear or light yellow water.
What to do the morning of the procedure:
-
Do not eat or drink anything after 5:30 am the morning of the procedure.
-
Take any necessary morning medicines with water at 5:30 am the morning of the procedure.
- If you have diabetes and take oral diabetes medicine (pills): Do not take the medicine the morning of the procedure. Bring your diabetes medicine with you.
- If you have diabetes and take insulin: On the morning of the procedure, take ½ of your usual dose of long-acting insulin before the procedure. Long-acting insulins include NPH, Humulin N, Humulin 70/30, Humalog Mix 75/25, Lantus, and Levemir. If you take Humulin R 500 insulin, take only ½ of your usual dose. Take no short-acting insulin the morning of the procedure. Short-acting insulins include Regular, Humulin R, Novolin R. Take the other ½ of your long-acting and any regularly scheduled dose of short-acting insulin right after the procedure. Be sure to eat your usual meal at that time. Please see handout Instructions for Patients with Diabetes Having Outpatient Procedures/Tests at www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/umdiabetesinsulin.htm.
- After you arrive at the procedure location (Medical Procedures Unit at either University Hospital in Ann Arbor or Livonia Center for Specialty Care), you will receive information about eating during the procedure.
- PLEASE NOTE: If you have an afternoon appointment, do not eat anything after 8 pm the night before the procedure. Mix the prep as described above, but drink the 2 doses at 7:00 am and 9:00 am the morning of the procedure.
