Colonoscopy preparation in Brisbane
Your written booking instructions are the source of truth for your procedure.
In short. Bowel preparation clears your large bowel so the lining can be examined during a colonoscopy. Your plan will explain what to eat and drink, when to take the preparation and when to stop eating and drinking. Follow the instructions issued for your booking. If they are unclear or differ from an online guide, contact your treating team before changing the plan.
Your instructions.
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Follow the instructions
issued for you.
Your booking documents take priority over a general preparation guide.
Why bowel preparation matters
Stool left in the bowel can hide polyps and other changes. Clearing it helps your specialist examine the lining. If preparation is incomplete, the colonoscopy may need to be postponed or repeated.
Read your booking instructions before the preparation starts. Check that you have the correct product and understand the food, drink and medicine instructions. If constipation or a previous preparation caused difficulty, tell your treating team in advance.
Food and drink before your colonoscopy
Your instructions explain when to start a low-fibre diet and when to change to clear fluids. Use the low-fibre diet guide for food choices alongside your own schedule.
Clear fluids and low-fibre foods are different stages of preparation. Once your instructions say to stop solid food, foods allowed earlier in the week are no longer suitable. Check the permitted drinks and the time you must stop drinking on your issued sheet.
Taking the bowel preparation
Use the product, dose, mixing instructions and times written in your preparation plan. Different products and appointment times require different schedules. Do not substitute another product or add extra laxatives yourself.
If you have been issued Glycoprep-O, the Glycoprep-O preparation guide explains the kit. Your booking instructions determine which schedule applies to you.
The preparation causes frequent, loose bowel motions. Keep a toilet within easy reach and allow time to complete the plan.
Making preparation easier to manage
- Keep the written schedule and the preparation product together.
- Plan to stay close to a toilet while the laxative is working.
- Follow the product’s mixing and storage instructions and your team’s advice about making it easier to drink.
- Drink the additional permitted fluids specified in your plan. If you have a fluid restriction, ask how it applies to preparation.
- Contact the treating team if nausea or another problem is making the plan difficult to finish.
If you cannot finish the preparation
Contact your treating team if you vomit, cannot finish the preparation or are unsure whether it is working. Tell them which product you took, how much you managed and when you took it. They can advise what to do next.
Do not take extra doses or change the timing yourself. Let the team know before your appointment if you could not complete the plan.
On the day of your colonoscopy
Follow the final-dose and fasting times on your issued instructions. The time to stop drinking is part of your individual plan; do not calculate it from a general online guide.
Follow the medicine plan issued for your procedure. Blood thinners, diabetes and weight-loss medicines, iron and other medicines may need specific advice. If the plan is unclear or does not cover a medicine, ask your treating team. Do not stop or change medicines yourself.
Check your arrival time and what to bring. Arrange your transport and support after sedation as directed by the facility.
Questions about your preparation?
If you are booked with Colonoscopy Brisbane and need help understanding your instructions, call 07 3733 1551. Have your appointment details and preparation sheet available. If you are booked elsewhere, contact the team performing your procedure.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drink coffee during preparation?
Check the permitted-drinks list and drinking cut-off time in your issued instructions. If coffee is not mentioned or the advice is unclear, ask your treating team before drinking it.
What if I have diabetes?
Ask your treating team for a plan covering food, drinks, glucose checks and medicines before preparation begins. Do not reduce insulin or stop diabetes medicines based on a general guide.
Can I take my regular blood pressure medicine?
Use the medicine instructions provided for your procedure. If a medicine is not covered or the advice is unclear, check with the treating team before changing it.
What if the preparation does not seem to be working?
Contact your treating team for advice, especially if constipation or a previous preparation has been a problem. Do not add laxatives or take an extra preparation dose without instructions.
How should I plan for recovery?
Follow the facility’s written instructions about transport, supervision, driving, work and medicines after sedation. Feeling awake does not mean you are ready to drive or resume every activity.
This article is part of our specialist series on bowel and gut health. For the full overview, see our main service page.
Last medically reviewed by Dr Goutham Sivasuthan, Specialist Endoscopic Surgeon — September 2026
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