Colonoscopy prep: Pills vs liquid prep?

I had a rare GIST carcinoma 20 years ago. I started with quarterly then bi-annual then yearly for the last 15 years endoscopy and colonoscopy.
All this to say that I’ve gone through the gamut of prep solutions.
The best ever for me was in the very beginning, the 3oz bottles of Fleet, over and done with fast but that got banned 🙁
Since then there haven’t been any good ones until a couple of years ago. CLENPIQ is game changer. It’s just 2 small bottles that don’t taste terrible.
I did the Osmoprep tablets, all 24 of the horse pills and it was probably the worst prep ever!
Here’s some tips for you that I have learned along the way.
Firstly, 3-5 days before you start the prep eat a “low residue” diet, white bread, white rice, broth, apple sauce, well cooked boiled vegetables and chicken or fish.
The idea is to cut fiber down to a minimum, this way, when you start the prep it’s much easier to eliminate and get a clean prep.
Drink lots of bone broth, the collagen in it is good for your gut Heath and supports it while you do the prep. A little known fact, you can eat gummy bear candy during the prep as long as they aren’t red or purple. This is a lifesaver if you need “mouth feel” to be satisfied while eating.
If you can’t drink black coffee but need the caffeine switch to light colored (usually citrus) energy drinks.
And lastly, most important for me at least as I’m emitaphobic, when prescribed the prep ask for a prescription for Zofran anti emetic. If you should feel sick from the prep it eliminates throwing up.
I hope these tips help.
Colonoscopies aren’t pleasant but they are a necessary evil and save countless lives every year.
Encourage everyone you care for to get theirs starting at 45. No excuses since it’s one of the few FREE screening tests we have.

I am so happy my insurance will only pay for colonoscopy every five years, but I am so afraid the rectal cancer will come back and it will be too late after five years.

I tried the pill routine...ugh. It was actually 24 "horse pills". Very large in size and you take 12 the night before and 12 in the morning with a copious amount of water. I have difficulty swallowing pills and had to split them down. It was a tremendous struggle for me.

I just had my yearly colonoscopy/endoscopy two weeks ago and asked my doctor what the feedback on them was. She told me that their practice wasn't using them any longer because they were finding too many pills that had not dissolved, in patients.

As I have a long history of yearly scopes, my best tips are to mix the liquid with Coke Zero, specifically, over a lot of ice and drink with a straw to the back of the throat. Follow up with the water. Makes it much easier to get it down.

Please do yourself a huge favor and get regular scopes in light of your history!!

I had a rare GIST carcinoma 20 years ago. I started with quarterly then bi-annual then yearly for the last 15 years endoscopy and colonoscopy.
All this to say that I’ve gone through the gamut of prep solutions.
The best ever for me was in the very beginning, the 3oz bottles of Fleet, over and done with fast but that got banned 🙁
Since then there haven’t been any good ones until a couple of years ago. CLENPIQ is game changer. It’s just 2 small bottles that don’t taste terrible.
I did the Osmoprep tablets, all 24 of the horse pills and it was probably the worst prep ever!
Here’s some tips for you that I have learned along the way.
Firstly, 3-5 days before you start the prep eat a “low residue” diet, white bread, white rice, broth, apple sauce, well cooked boiled vegetables and chicken or fish.
The idea is to cut fiber down to a minimum, this way, when you start the prep it’s much easier to eliminate and get a clean prep.
Drink lots of bone broth, the collagen in it is good for your gut Heath and supports it while you do the prep. A little known fact, you can eat gummy bear candy during the prep as long as they aren’t red or purple. This is a lifesaver if you need “mouth feel” to be satisfied while eating.
If you can’t drink black coffee but need the caffeine switch to light colored (usually citrus) energy drinks.
And lastly, most important for me at least as I’m emitaphobic, when prescribed the prep ask for a prescription for Zofran anti emetic. If you should feel sick from the prep it eliminates throwing up.
I hope these tips help.
Colonoscopies aren’t pleasant but they are a necessary evil and save countless lives every year.
Encourage everyone you care for to get theirs starting at 45. No excuses since it’s one of the few FREE screening tests we have.

Thanks. I have no trouble with pills (large or small). I do have trouble with the crap they make you drink though. LoL! I hate that stuff! I’ll try the pills this time. We will see after that. Thank you for your reply!

I recently had an "abnormal" Cologuard result and will have to undergo colonoscopy. I've had 4 before and had no problem with the MiraLax/Gatorade/Bisacodyl prep, but this GE team is prescribing 2 liters of GoLytely plus Dulcolax x 3 times, starting 2 days before, 1 day before and day of, for total of 6 liters. Is that much laxative safe? How bad is GoLytely?

Found this on the web:
https://www.ccalliance.org/blog/prevention/new-colonoscopy-prep-tablet-approved-fda
Sounds like a press release...

Research what else you have to do when you take the pill.

Note that the physician who does the colonoscopy will have his recommendations for prep which may exclude this.

I recently had an "abnormal" Cologuard result and will have to undergo colonoscopy. I've had 4 before and had no problem with the MiraLax/Gatorade/Bisacodyl prep, but this GE team is prescribing 2 liters of GoLytely plus Dulcolax x 3 times, starting 2 days before, 1 day before and day of, for total of 6 liters. Is that much laxative safe? How bad is GoLytely?

@luhn I’m there now. A lot worried. A little hopeful. 2 previous Colorguard tests three years apart (2018, 2021). Had another in December and got a positive result, unfortunately. I’m 65, healthy, walk 5 miles a day but just scheduled my first ever colonoscopy for two weeks from today (1/28/26). Reading about the prep scares the almost literal crap out of me, which is why I’ve avoided having a colonoscopy up to this point (plus no history in my family)…
I’m fretting over the prep with all the serious possible side effects. Considering canceling having it done altogether… I just don’t know what to do. Colorguard’s false positivity rate is only 13%, which is not encouraging. I feel good, I feel the same as I’ve always felt. I’m youthful , busy, keep up with six grandchildren, walk 5 miles a day as I earlier stated, I have no symptoms of any kind from abdominal pain/bleeding/NOTHING. I really think that positive result was a FALSE positive. But now I’m told I will never have a colorguard test again and will always have to have colonoscopies. I’ve never feared the colonoscopy itself. I just don’t think I can handle the prep. And honestly, the pain and discomfort, side effects, of the prep truly frighten me. Like a phobia.

Wondering if I should contact Dr office & ask for pills instead. Not even sure they would consider it. Was my first visit ever to this dr 2 weeks ago (referral from my MD) and honestly the Dr was “nice” but firm. I don’t think they’re very likely to be “soft” about my attitude.

Also what is your opinion about the fact that I have a Colorectal specialist doing the colonoscopy versus a gastroenterologist? I always thought gastroenterologists performed colonoscopies but I was referred to a colorectal specialist by my doctor because of different bowel movement symptoms the previous several months. Here’s some TMI, for 64 years I pooped once or twice a week, but this past year I’ve pooped daily so with that change, my doctor referred me to the colorectal specialist. That’s all. No other pain, bleeding, etc. Last June my doctor said I was six months away from my next colorguard test. but in December due to some vomiting and diarrhea, Norovirus (24-hr stomach flu), she decided to send me the colorguard test and get it done sooner. Then…the positive result. UGHHH

I’ll take anyone’s comments/remarks/helpful hints/advice.