Having a colonoscopy can feel daunting — that’s normal, and you’re not alone. The good news is that preparing properly makes the procedure smoother, safer, and more accurate. This guide walks you through every step, from two weeks before to the morning of your colonoscopy in Brisbane.

Dr Goutham Sivasuthan and the Colonoscopy Brisbane team will give you your detailed, personalised prep instructions once your procedure is booked — this guide explains what to expect and helps you plan ahead.

Why bowel preparation matters

For a successful colonoscopy, your bowel needs to be completely clean. This lets Dr Goutham see the entire lining of the colon, detect even small polyps, and remove anything suspicious in the same procedure.

If preparation is incomplete, the procedure may need to be stopped and repeated on another day — at additional cost and inconvenience. The single most important thing you can do is follow the timeline below closely.

Your colonoscopy preparation timeline

Two weeks before your colonoscopy

• Read the detailed prep booklet and confirmation letter that Colonoscopy Brisbane sends you after booking.
• Arrange a friend or family member to drive you home — you cannot drive for 24 hours after sedation.
• If you take blood-thinning medications (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, clopidogrel, aspirin), GLP-1 medications (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro), or diabetes medications (insulin, metformin), contact our rooms — we may need to adjust timing. Do not stop these medications without specific instructions.
• Stock up on the items in the “what to buy” list below.

One week before

• Stop iron tablets and any fish-oil or multivitamin supplements (these can interfere with the prep).
• Pick up your bowel preparation kit from your pharmacy — common Australian options include Picoprep, Picolax, Glycoprep-O, Moviprep, and Plenvu. Your specific prep will be on your prescription.
• Re-read your booklet — confirm the day and time of your procedure.

Two to three days before — start the low-residue diet

From 2–3 days before, switch to a low-residue diet (also called the “White Diet”). The goal is to reduce the volume of stool in your bowel.

✅ Allowed foods

• White bread, plain toast, plain bagels, plain bread rolls, plain croissants
• Refined breakfast cereals: Cornflakes, Rice Bubbles, Special K (plain)
• White rice, white pasta, plain pancakes
• Plain biscuits (no fruit, no whole grains), plain cake
• Chicken, fish, eggs, lean meat (no skin, no seeds)
• Smooth dairy: milk, plain yoghurt, cheese, custard, cottage cheese
• Strained fruit juices (no pulp)
• Tea, coffee (with milk if you like)

❌ NOT allowed

• Wholegrains: brown bread, brown rice, wholemeal pasta, oats, porridge, muesli
• Nuts and seeds (including in bread, yoghurt, or muesli bars)
• Beans and lentils (baked beans, kidney beans, chickpeas)
• Dried fruit (sultanas, dates, prunes)
• Raw fruit and vegetables — including salads
• Skins on fruit or potatoes
• Anything coloured red, purple, or blue — these dyes can stain the bowel lining and look like blood

24–36 hours before — clear fluids only

From around 24 hours before your procedure, stop eating solid food entirely. You may drink clear fluids as much as you like — staying well hydrated makes the prep more comfortable and the procedure safer.

What counts as a clear fluid

• Water
• Clear apple juice (no pulp)
• Yellow or orange cordial (e.g. lemon, orange)
• Clear chicken or vegetable broth (strained)
• Tea or coffee — without milk
• Yellow or orange sports drinks (e.g. Gatorade Lemon-Lime, Powerade Lemon)
• Honey or sugar
• Plain (clear) lollies — barley sugar, butterscotch
• Yellow or orange jelly

Do NOT consume

• Anything red, purple, or blue (including red jelly, purple Powerade, blue sports drinks, blackcurrant cordial)
• Milk or anything with milk in it (tea/coffee included)
• Solid food of any kind
• Smoothies, milkshakes, or thick juices with pulp
• Alcohol

Where to buy your prep supplies in Brisbane

• Bowel prep kit (Picoprep / Picolax / Glycoprep-O / Moviprep / Plenvu): any Chemist Warehouse, Priceline, TerryWhite, Amcal, or local pharmacy — bring your prescription.
• Clear fluid supplies: Woolworths, Coles, IGA — yellow/orange sports drinks, clear apple juice, lemon cordial, chicken broth, yellow jelly.
• Low-residue staples: White bread, white rice, plain Cornflakes — same supermarkets.

Taking your bowel prep medication

The specific timing, dose, and split of your prep depends on (a) the product you’ve been prescribed and (b) the time of your procedure. Always follow the printed instructions Colonoscopy Brisbane provides — the summary below is a general orientation only.

Split-dose preparation (most common)

Most prep products in Australia use a split-dose regimen — half the prep the evening before, half early on the morning of your procedure. Split-dose has been shown to give the cleanest views and is the standard of care.

• Evening before (around 6–8pm): take your first dose with the volume of water specified on the packet. You’ll start producing watery bowel motions within 1–3 hours.
• Early morning of procedure (typically 4–6 hours before your appointment): take your second dose. Continue clear fluids until 2 hours before your procedure.
• 2 hours before procedure: stop all fluids.

If you can’t keep the prep down

• Slow down — take small sips every few minutes rather than gulping.
• Drink the prep cold (some products taste better chilled).
• Suck on a yellow boiled lolly between sips to clear the taste.
• Take a 30-minute break, then resume.
• If you vomit or feel severely unwell, call Colonoscopy Brisbane on (07) TBD before stopping the prep.

The day of your colonoscopy

• You’ll arrive at the day-surgery facility (typically Springwood Day Surgery, Loganholme, or your booked facility) at the time specified — usually 1–2 hours before the procedure.
• Your bowel motions should look like clear or pale-yellow water by the time you arrive. If still cloudy or coloured, tell the nurses immediately.
• You’ll change into a gown, have an IV cannula placed, and meet your anaesthetist and Dr Goutham before the procedure.
• The procedure itself takes 20–40 minutes. You’ll be sedated throughout — most patients don’t remember anything.
• You’ll wake in recovery within 30–60 minutes. Light snacks (sandwich, biscuit, water) are usually offered.
• You’ll go home 1–2 hours after waking, escorted by your nominated driver.

After your procedure

• You may feel bloated or have mild cramps for a few hours — this is normal and improves as the gas used during the procedure clears.
• Eat a light, normal meal once you feel ready.
• Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, sign legal documents, or drink alcohol for 24 hours.
• Dr Goutham will explain your findings before you go home, and a written report will be sent to your GP within a few days.

Frequently asked questions about colonoscopy preparation

When should my colonoscopy preparation begin?

The food restrictions (low-residue diet) begin 2–3 days before your colonoscopy. The actual prep medication starts the evening before, with a second dose on the morning of your procedure for most patients.

What can I eat the day before my colonoscopy?

The day before, you’ll be on clear fluids only. The day before that (2 days before) you can still eat low-residue solid foods — white bread, plain cereals, chicken, eggs, dairy — but no fibre, nuts, seeds, beans, fruit skins, or anything red/purple.

Where can I buy clear soup for my colonoscopy prep in Brisbane?

Strained clear chicken or vegetable broth is available at Woolworths, Coles, and IGA — look in the soup aisle for brands like Continental, Maggi, or Massel that produce strained clear stocks. Avoid creamy or chunky soups.

Can I drink alcohol two days before my colonoscopy?

It’s best to avoid alcohol from 2 days before your colonoscopy. Alcohol can dehydrate you, irritate the bowel lining, and interact with the sedation medications used during the procedure.

What if I’m on blood thinners or GLP-1 medications?

Please contact Colonoscopy Brisbane on (07) TBD as soon as your procedure is booked. We need to know in advance about warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, clopidogrel, aspirin, and GLP-1 agonists (Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro). Stopping or continuing these depends on your individual circumstances — never stop without specific instructions.

Is colonoscopy painful?

No. You’ll receive sedation throughout the procedure, and most patients don’t remember it. Mild bloating and cramps for a few hours afterwards are normal but usually settle quickly.

How long does the procedure take?

The colonoscopy itself takes 20–40 minutes. With check-in, sedation, recovery, and discharge, plan to be at the facility for around 3–4 hours total.

What happens if Dr Goutham finds a polyp during my colonoscopy?

Most polyps can be removed during the same procedure — you don’t need a separate operation. The polyp is sent to pathology for analysis. Dr Goutham will discuss the findings with you in recovery and write to your GP with the results and recommended follow-up interval.

What if my prep isn’t working — bowel motions still aren’t clear?

Call Colonoscopy Brisbane on (07) TBD. We may advise you to take additional clear fluids, an extra laxative dose, or in some cases reschedule. Don’t just turn up if your bowel isn’t clear — an incomplete colonoscopy means we may miss things.

Can I drive myself home after the procedure?

No. You must have a friend or family member drive you home — you cannot drive, take public transport alone, operate machinery, sign documents, or drink alcohol for 24 hours after sedation. We won’t release you without a nominated adult escort.

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Reviewed by Dr Goutham Sivasuthan, FRACS — General & Endoscopic Surgeon, GESA-accredited. Last updated: 25 May 2026 [DATE TO INSERT ON PUBLICATION]. AHPRA registration: MED0002000354.

This guide is general patient information. Your individual prep instructions, provided by Colonoscopy Brisbane after your procedure is booked, override anything written here. If anything is unclear, call us on (07) 3733 1551.