4 to 3 days before your colonoscopy
Colonoscopy diet advice and bowel preparation
4 days before your colonoscopy
Stop taking any medicines that contain iron.
There should be a list of what your medicines contain in the leaflet that comes with them.
If your medicines contain iron, you will see these words in the list:
- Iron
- Ferrous
- Ferric
- Feredetate
If you are not sure whether your medicines contain iron, ask your pharmacist, doctor or nurse. You can also call our pharmacy medicines helpline on 020 7188 8748 (open Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
Continue to take all other medicines as usual.
Eat and drink as normal.
3 days before your colonoscopy
Stop taking any medicines that contain codeine phosphate (which is used to treat pain, a cough and diarrhoea).
Stop taking any medicines that contain loperamide (which is used to treat diarrhoea).
Avoid medicines that contain iron.
There should be a list of what your medicines contain in the leaflet that comes with them.
If you are not sure whether your medicines contain iron, codeine phosphate or loperamide, please ask your pharmacist, doctor or nurse. You can also call our pharmacy medicines helpline on 020 7188 8748 (open 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
Continue to take all other medicines as usual.
Eat and drink as normal.
Ref number: 3993/VER2
Currently under review
A list of sources is available on request
