In the article we will tell you what to drink before a colonoscopy to cleanse the intestines. This is an endoscopic research method for studying the condition of the intestine, which helps to diagnose any pathological changes in the intestinal walls. This procedure is painless for the patient, since at the moment it is carried out using sedation or short-term general anesthesia. In order for the study to be informative, special medications should be taken to cleanse the intestines before colonoscopy.
What is bowel cleansing for?
The main objective of this type of medicine is to cleanse the intestines, remove gases and toxins. Modern equipment for colonoscopy includes a thin tube consisting of fibers with a special video camera at the end. Due to its high plasticity, it bends well, passing through the intestinal structure, and therefore causes less unpleasant sensations to patients. Colonoscopy accompanies the entire research process by broadcasting on a monitor, which provides an opportunity to record and compare the results with further procedures.
What is in our intestines?
In the intestines of healthy people there are constantly substances formed during the digestion of food products, fiber, residues of food, water, trace elements, salts, mucus, pancreatic and bile enzymes, as well as bacterial flora. Different dishes require different efforts of the body during digestion. The remnants of fatty meat (12 hours or more) are retained for the longest time in the intestines.
In this regard, the use of meat before a colonoscopy is prohibited. Light protein and carbohydrate foods are digested faster. Fiber of fruits and vegetables, the incoming fluid creates all the conditions for faster movement of fecal matter through the intestines, stimulates peristalsis. But for inspection of natural bowel movements, as a rule, is not enough. The lumen and the walls of the intestine for a visual assessment of the structure of tissues should be as clean as possible. An endoscopist can detect scars, ulcers, erosion, adhesions, neoplasms, small polyps.
For subsequent therapy, it is necessary to correctly determine the degree of the inflammatory process or destruction, as well as the localization of the pathological process. In order for the diagnosis to give reliable results, preparation is made.
Colon Cleansing Medications Before Colonoscopy
Intestinal cleansing preparations should have pronounced laxative properties. However, not every drug can be suitable for preparing for a colonoscopy. In the arsenal of medical specialists to stimulate intestinal motility, there are drugs of various effects in drops, tablets, oily solutions, chewing pads. Among them:
- adding fiber and enzymes to feces;
- activating nerve endings localized in the muscles of the intestinal walls;
- irritating mucous membranes.
Before carrying out the study, for proper cleaning, these medications are not suitable. Their use changes the appearance of the inner shell of the intestine, complicates the diagnosis. To date, the following medicines are used to cleanse the intestines before colonoscopy:
- Fortrans
- Lavacol
- "Moviprep";
- Fleet
- "Pikoprep";
- Endofalk.
Let's consider some of them in more detail.
Fortrans
How is the preparation for Fortrans colonoscopy performed? This intestinal cleansing medicine contains potassium, sodium, and macrogol salts. It affects the body through the binding of these substances to water molecules. The medication helps to increase the amount of intestinal contents and after that it is completely removed from the intestine by defecation. This laxative is not absorbed into the general bloodstream, does not produce systemic effects.
Rules for preparation for a colonoscopy by Fortrans:
- If the study is carried out in the morning, then a day before the diagnostic event, you can eat a light lunch or breakfast (until 12 noon). An adult patient will need 4 packets of this drug to cleanse the intestines. Each of them must be dissolved in a liter of water. The resulting drug solution is taken in 1 glass every 15 minutes from 17:00 to 21:00. In total, the patient needs to drink 4 liters of fluid. This is stated in the instructions for use. The price of Fortrans will be indicated below.
- When the study is conducted in the afternoon, a two-stage drug regimen is used. 2 liters of the prepared Fortrans solution should be taken from 19:00 to 21:00 before colonoscopy and the same volume of solution in the morning, on the day of the diagnosis, from 8:00 to 10:00.
To improve the taste of the drug, you can add a little lemon juice to it. In the process of taking the medicinal solution, it is recommended to move: do any housework, walk, independently perform a stomach massage (according to the instructions for use with Fortrans).
The price of the drug is from 440 rubles. It depends on the region and the pharmacy network.
The patient must strictly follow the instructions of a specialist. You can not stop taking the drug in case of dyspeptic disorder. In this case, you can delay the reception of the solution for 20-30 minutes, after which continue the procedure until the required volume is reached.
This medicine for cleansing the intestines before colonoscopy is contraindicated in the following cases:
- severe conditions of the patient, for example, dehydration or severe heart failure;
- partial or complete intestinal obstruction;
- the presence of an oncological tumor or other pathology of the colon, which is accompanied by extensive damage to the intestinal mucosa;
- age less than 15 years (based on lack of information on clinical use);
- high sensitivity to polyethylene glycol, as there are reports of the development of allergic reactions when taking the medication (swelling, rash).
Lavacol
Consider the instructions for use of Lavacol. Price and reviews will also be presented.
This medical product belongs to the category of osmotic laxatives. In its composition, it has potassium and sodium chlorides, polyethylene glycol, sodium bicarbonate. The medication has an effect on the walls of the colon, stimulates the release of fluid into its lumen. Fecal masses soften and begin to be excreted from the body. Therefore, cleansing the intestines with Lavacol before colonoscopy is quite effective. In one package is 15 bags of the drug.
A medical device has many advantages: it does not disturb the electrolyte balance of the blood, does not metabolize with the formation of toxic products, does not accumulate in the body, and does not cause irritation of the intestinal mucosa. In addition, the tool does not change the normal composition of the intestinal microflora.
If the study is scheduled for the morning, on the eve of each of the 15 sachets should be diluted in 200 ml of water and drink at intervals of 15-20 minutes. For maximum effect, medication should end 18-19 hours before the diagnostic procedure, so the recommended time for admission is from 14:00 to 19:00.
If an endoscopic examination is planned for the evening, then preparation for it using the Lavacol preparation is carried out in two stages. The day before the procedure, bowel cleansing is carried out according to the above scheme. In the morning, before a colonoscopy, the patient should prepare another 5 packets and take the solution for an hour. In any scheme, experts recommend increasing the amount of fluid drunk by 1 liter.
Contraindications to the use of this medication are:
- toxic intestinal dilatation;
- heart failure;
- dehydration;
- impaired renal function;
- allergy to the drug;
- age less than 18 years;
- period of pregnancy.
This is confirmed by the instructions for use. According to reviews, the price of Lavacol is quite acceptable - about 200 rubles. Many people like this tool. It is effective and well tolerated. When compared with Fortrans, Lavacol is preferable, since it is 2 times cheaper.
"Moviprep"
This medicine is in the form of a powder containing sodium salts, ascorbic acid, macrogol. These substances increase the osmotic pressure in the intestinal lumens, as a result of which the liquid from the blood enters the intestinal cavity, feces are liquefied and completely removed from the body.
There are some advantages to colon cleansing before the Moviprep colonoscopy:
- the volume of the solution is 2 times less than that of the above agents;
- the medicine contains a lemon flavor, which greatly facilitates the reception.
You can take food 18-20 hours before the diagnosis, after which it is allowed to drink water, tea, filtered compotes. When the procedure is scheduled for the morning, the preparation is carried out in one step. The drug is taken according to this scheme:
- from 19:00 to 20:00 take a liter of solution inside;
- after this, you should drink about 0.5 l of liquid;
- from 21:00 to 22:00 - another liter of solution.
For cooking, you need to take a bag of "A" and one "B". The powder must be mixed in 300 ml of water, then add liquid to a volume of one liter. The entire volume should be divided into 4 doses - drink every 15 minutes. The second liter of the preparation is prepared similarly.
If the study is carried out in the afternoon, the first liter is taken early in the morning, the second - from 10:00 to 11:00.
"Fleet" before a colonoscopy
This medicine for cleaning the intestines before endoscopy contains sodium phosphate salts. The mechanism of laxative effect is due to an increase in the amount of water in the intestine, as well as stimulation of peristalsis. It is practically not absorbed into the blood. Perhaps a slight violation of the concentration of phosphorus and sodium plasma, which does not require correction.
Contraindications to the use of a laxative:
- toxic megacolon;
- the presence of ulcerative lesions in the intestine;
- age up to 15 years;
- chronic heart failure;
- changes in kidney function;
- allergy to the medicine.
Application implies such measures: at 7-8 a.m., take a glass of liquid, then dissolve 45 ml of the drug in half a glass of water, drink in one gulp. For a day you need to take at least 3 liters of any diet-approved fluid.
"Pikoprep"
Also assigned before colonoscopy "Picoprep". This medication is available in the form of a powder with a citrus smell and contains citric acid, magnesium oxide and sodium picosulfate. Bowel cleansing is due to the osmotic action of the components. Salts are not absorbed and do not cause systemic effects.
In order to cleanse the intestines qualitatively, you must follow the instructions. The contents of the first sachet should be taken by dissolving in water at 8: 00-9: 00, before colonoscopy. Take the medicine with 1.25 liters of liquid. Dilute the second bag in water and drink at 16: 00-17: 00 hours, washed down with 3 glasses of water. The total volume of fluid drunk during the day should be at least 4 liters.
There are some contraindications to the use of the drug "Pikoprep":
- allergic reactions;
- severe dehydration;
- bowel obstruction;
- high levels of magnesium in the blood;
- acute surgical pathologies;
- pregnancy.
Endofalk before diagnosis
According to reviews, "Endofalk" in cleansing the intestines before colonoscopy is also very effective.
The pharmacological properties of the drug “Endofalk” are the initiation of watery diarrhea, since the mixture of macrogol 3350 and various electrolytes present in the composition of the drug provokes a laxative effect, which helps to accelerate the passage of the intestine.
Due to the presence of high molecular weight polyethylene glycol, an isoosmolar solution is formed in which the number of particles of the dissolved element is comparable to their level in the blood plasma. The electrolytes in solution are in a balanced form. Also, osmolarity and balance prevent the absorption of fluid in the stomach and intestines and contribute to the optimal balance of electrolytes and water between the lumen of the digestive tract and the vascular bed.
Thus, the water-salt balance in the body is almost not disturbed. Polyethylene glycol prevents gas formation caused by the metabolizing effect of bacteria as a result of the fact that it is not subjected to absorption and metabolism.
Contraindications: intestinal obstruction, obstruction of the lumen of the intestine or stomach; toxic megacolon, perforation of the gastrointestinal tract, colitis at the exacerbation stage, ulcerative lesions, tendency to aspirate and regurgitate the gastric contents, disturbances of the swallowing reflex, weakness, dehydration, heart failure of degrees 3 and 4, impaired renal function, liver disease, age less than 18 years.
To prepare the solution, the contents of 1 sachet are diluted in 0.5 l of water. The solution is recommended to take 0.2-0.3 liters with an interval of 10 minutes. For complete cleansing, you need to drink 3-4 liters of solution.
Which drug is better?
According to experts, almost all laxatives used to cleanse the intestines before colonoscopy, discussed above, have the same principle of action. The difference is only in the minor nuances of the compositions and tastes of the preparations.
In most cases, doctors prescribe Fortrans medication. This tool does not have a pleasant taste, but is considered the most effective. With a 99% probability, the medicine will provide a qualitative effect, which is also confirmed by patient reviews.