Colonoscopy prep: Pills vs liquid prep?

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 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!!

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 good alternative for the liquid prep is Gatorade mixed with Miralax. (ask your doctor if you can use this prep). 1/2 gallon of Gatorade is required, but, I always do more (so that I can ensure that I am cleaned out). The Gatorade tastes so much better then the other stuff.

Agreed!

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.

Best advice yet. You are right. My Dr at Mayo recommended the CLENPIQ to be easiest for me, and she was right on.
I said after a bad experience with a colonoscopy up north 23 years ago that I would never have another one. Now, I am paying the price, thanks to a Cologuard test, I am recovering from invasive colon cancer surgery, and it is not easy.

I did great with the sutab pills! Just be by the toilet cause once you do the first round in about a 15 minute span with a bottle of water, and the another bottle within 1/2 hr it comes flying out! Just in time to start your next bottle! Lasts 3 hrs or so and then pretty controlled. They will give you an anti nausea or 2 to take and I started at 7 and was done by 10 30ish. Hard part was waking up for the shower next am cause you prep then clean yes? Just time it all out and you’ll be good

I did the pills for the colonoscopy and surgery. I just have a horrible time keeping any kind of liquid medication down so the pills were the perfect solution for me. No issues at all and didn’t feel dreadful afterwards except for feeling really hungry.

Very helpful tips, @seracut. I look forward to your adding your experience with GIST and support you'll be able to offer others at the beginning of their journey. You may wish to explore this discussion:
- Anyone have experience with gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)?
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gist-cancer/