Ipswich Digestive Health Group

Prior to your Colonoscopy

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Important Information Prior to Colonoscopy

Prior to colonoscopy, patients with any health issues, or who take regular medications, are assessed by a nurse, or in complicated cases by Dr. Holt or Dr. Kiel. This is to help to minimise any risks and assist with understanding of the preparation process.


Nurse assessments for open access patients occur through our rooms on Wednesday afternoons in Limestone street, or via St Andrew's hospital, if that is where your referral is directed by your general practitioner.

Medications

Most medications should be continued, as per normal, during your study. This is especially true for all blood pressure and heart medications. Take these right up to and including the day of the procedure take with a small amount of water. Those medications which may need to be altered are listed below:


You will be instructed by the nurse in regard to these at your pre-procedure assessment. If you are unsure, do not hesitate to contact us.

  • Diabetes

    If you are a diabetic, special instructions will be given to you. Because ther will be periods of fasting during your preparation some medications are stopped prior to the procedure to avoid hypoglycaemia. This is especially important if you use insulin. Please notify our staff on booking if you are an insulin-dependent diabetic so we can arrange nurse assessment, and an early morning appointment.

  • Iron Tablets

    These should be ceased seven days before the procedure.

  • Aspirin or fish oil

    These can be continued unless advised otherwise. Biopsies and polypectomies can be performed safely on aspirin.

  • Warfarin and other anticoagulants

    Therapy should be individualised by discussing this at the time of your pre-procedure consultation. If you continue with strong anticagulants up to the time of the procedure, then it is still safe to perform a colonoscopy, however polyps cannot be removed during the procedure due to the risk of bleeding.

  • Antiplatelet or Anticoagulant Agents include

    • lscover or Plavix (Ciopidogrel)
    • Warfarin
    • Xeralto
    • Eloquis
    • Clexane
    • Aggrostot

    Because these medications have a strong anti-platelet/anti-coagulant effect, they may need to be ceased prior to the colonoscopy. The amount of time these need to be ceased varies considerable with each medication. How to take these medications will be discussed at your pre-procedural appointment. Your cardiologist may need to be contacted in some cases. If you do cease these medications, aspirin may be substituted (if appropriate) . If the above medications are not ceased, then significant polyps will not be able to be removed at the time of the procedure.

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Heart Problems

We will need to give you antibiotics during the colonoscopy for the following heart conditions:

  • Prosthetic heart valves or severe valve disease
  • History of endocarditis
  • Surgically constructed shunts

Please inform us if you have a pacemaker. If you have an implanted defibrillator you should have your procedure in a major hospital. It may also be necessary to consult with your Cardiologist.

Recent Tests

You should not have a colonoscopy performed if you have had a barium enema or a barium meal in the last seven days. Please let us know if you have had these tests performed recently.