Daily Health News Blog

Having a colonoscopy can be a lifesaver. But if you dread the standard “prep,” there are regimens that are easier and still effective. It’s essential to clean out your colon adequately before a colonoscopy, so the doctor can see what’s going on inside. If you don’t, the test is more likely to miss polyps and cancerous lesions that may be present, may take longer, and may even have to be redone (along with the prep). With all regimens, you go on a clear-liquid diet the day before the test. The most common prep involves drinking about 4 quarts of polyethylene glycol solution (such as Golytely or CoLyte), typically half the evening before and half that morning, depending on the time of the test. Available as generics, these are the least expensive and come in various flavors. It’s easiest to drink 8 ounces chilled every 15 to 20 minutes. Lower-volume regimens (such as MoviPrep and HalfLytely) use about 2 quarts of the solution, plus often a standard laxative. Another option is to