Colonoscopy preparation kits consist of laxatives and electrolytes in tablet or liquid form. There are different types of kits — some are prescription, while others available are over the counter.

DEAR DR. ROACH: I am a 72-year-old male in good health. I've had a couple of colonoscopies, but the required cleansing prep with harsh laxatives has become increasingly difficult for my body to take.

Colonoscopy prep pills are a type of laxative medication used to clean out your bowels before a colonoscopy. Some people find the pills easier to take than the laxative liquid solutions that are often ...

An adequate bowel preparation is defined as one that permits the detection of all polyps >5 mm in size. While providing a conceptual framework for understanding an acceptable preparation, this ...

Decades ago, to prepare for a colonoscopy, patients first had to clean out their colons using laxatives such as castor oil or magnesium citrate, sometimes over several days. It wasn’t pleasant. Things ...

Sometimes, the preparation solution to clear the bowels before a colonoscopy does not work, or only partially works. A person can speak with their doctor about ways to make the prep more effective.

Who says colonoscopy prep can't come with a tiny drink umbrella?

Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is a board-certified gastroenterologist who serves as vice chair of Ambulatory Services at Lower Manhattan Hospital and professor of medicine at the Weill Cornell Medical ...

A colonoscopy can help your doctor find precancerous polyps, early colorectal cancer, or other health conditions that may be affecting your colon or rectum. Early diagnosis and treatment may improve ...

This important procedure doesn’t have to feel awkward or embarrassing. Here’s what to know to make the test and the colonoscopy prep easier.