2 to 1 day before your VCE
Video capsule endoscopy of the large bowel
Quick schedule
- 2 days before your VCE: Have a meal at about 8pm and do not eat anything after this meal
- The day before your VCE: Do not have any food
2 days before your VCE
- Keep taking all other medicines as usual.
- Keep having small meals and follow the food and drink guide.
- Drink lots of fluids, try to have 2 litres (about 8 to 10 glasses) each day.
- Have a meal at about 8pm. Do not eat anything after this meal.
Food and drink guide for 2 days before your VCE
You can eat or drink:
- Well-cooked, lean beef, lamb, ham, veal or pork
- fish, shellfish
- chicken or turkey
- white rice, noodles or white pasta
- cereal (such as cornflakes, or bran)
- white bread (or toast)
- rich tea or other plain biscuits
- eggs (boiled or poached)
- butter, margarine, cheese, cottage cheese
- milk or cream
- potatoes without the skin (boiled, creamed, mashed or baked)
- soya and tofu
- gravy made from stock cubes
- sugar or sweetener
- clear jelly
- clear strained soup or clear stock (no solids in it, and not puréed)
- chocolate and sweets (without fruits or nuts)
- water, including flavoured water
- cordials, fizzy drinks
Do not eat or drink:
- fruit (fresh, dried or canned)
- brown rice or brown pasta
- high-fibre breakfast cereals (such as porridge oats)
- pulses or lentils
- high-fibre, multi-seeded, 50/50 or wholemeal bread
- vegetables
- nuts or seeds
- roasted, deep-fried food (such as chips)
- crisps
- jam
- red jelly
- red or purple cordials or fruit juice
- alcohol
The day before your VCE
Keep taking your usual medicines with water during the day.
Stop taking any bulk-forming laxatives, which include:
- isphagula (for example, Fybogel®)
- bran
- methylcellulose (Celevac®)
- sterculia (Normacol®)
Do not eat any food. You should follow the food and drink guide.
Food and drink guide for the day before your VCE
You can drink:
- water, including flavoured water
- black tea or black coffee (no milk)
- soft drinks (including fizzy and energy drinks)
- boiled sweets that are dissolved slowly
- clear soup or stock (no solids in it, and not puréed)
- Bovril or Marmite as a hot drink (only 1 mug as it’s salty)
- clear fruit or vegetable juice with no bits
You can chew gum but do not swallow it.
Try to have at least 2 litres of clear fluid (8 to 10 glasses) in total throughout the day.
Do not drink:
- do not drink milk
- do not drink red or purple drinks
- do not drink alcohol
Bowel preparation medicine
You will either be prescribed Plenvu® or MoviPrep®
If you are prescribed Plenvu
On the day before your procedure, at 4pm:
- Empty sachet dose 1 of Plenvu into 500ml of water.
- Stir until the Plenvu has dissolved.
- In a separate container, pour an additional 500ml of clear fluid (water, clear soup,tea or coffee without milk).
- Alternate drinking both solutions (the Plenvu solution and clear fluid) over the course of 60 to 90 minutes.
The solution tastes better if served chilled, so you may want to mix in advance and keep in the fridge. Use within 24 hours of preparation.
If you are prescribed MoviPrep
On the day before your procedure, at 4pm:
- Empty 1 sachet A and 1 sachet B of MoviPrep into 1 litre of water.
- Stir the solution until the powder is dissolved.
- Drink the solution over the course of 60 to 90 minutes.
The solution tastes better if served chilled, so you may want to mix in advance and keep in the fridge. Use within 24 hours of preparation.
After taking the bowel preparation
It is advisable that you stay near a toilet once you have started taking the bowel preparation solution. You should expect frequent bowel movements (needing to poo) and diarrhoea, starting within 3 hours of the first dose, and continuing until after your last dose.
The timings of the bowel preparation medicine are designed so that the effects wear off before you need to leave home to travel to the hospital.
Side effects of bowel preparation medicine
You might have some bloating or stomach cramps. This is normal.
You can use a barrier cream such as zinc and castor oil on your bottom to prevent it getting sore. Ask your doctor or nurse to recommend a cream at your pre-assessment appointment.
Remember to keep drinking clear fluids to stop you from becoming dehydrated. As a guide, try to drink about 1 glass every hour. Signs that you are dehydrated include dizziness, headache and confusion.
If you are taking the contraceptive pill it might not be effective once you have taken the bowel preparation. You must use other precautions (such as condoms) to avoid pregnancy. Please speak to your GP, pharmacist or family planning clinic for further advice on contraception.
When to get medical help after taking Plenvu or MoviPrep
Contact your GP, or the endoscopy unit, it you have any allergic reactions to the bowel preparation medicine. For example:
- a rash or itchiness
- if you are being sick (vomiting)
Go to your nearest emergency department (A&E) if:
you have a reaction that causes swelling of the:
- face
- lips
- tongue
- throat
Resource number: 5264/VER4
Date published: August 2024
Review date: August 2027
