8 Tips To Avoid Vomiting & Nausea During Colonoscopy Prep. [Doctor Explains]
Our content is not intended nor recommended as a substitute for medical advice by your doctor. Use for informational purposes only.
Hello everyone!
Preparing for a colonoscopy can be challenging, especially when nausea and vomiting threaten to derail your day. Bdoesn’toesn’t have to be that way. You can breeze through the prep with the right tips without feeling miserable.
In this article, I’ll share eight proven tips to help you avoid nausea and vomiting during colonoscopy. Let’s dive in so you can tackle your prep with ease!
Quick insights on how to avoid vomiting during colonoscopy prep.
- Start with a small test dose of 30 to 60 mL of your colon prep.
- Gradually increase the dose of your colon prep. AVOID drinking too much prep too fast.
- Take a 30-60-minute break if you are already vomiting.
- Try to refrigerate your colon prep. This helps to reduce nausea and vomiting.
- Avoid too much moving and activities.
- Try a simple slow-deep breathing exercise.
- Take over-the-counter Antiemetic or anti-nausea Medications. If you don’t have any contraindications.
- Ask your doctor if there is no response or if you have severe vomiting.
(1) Start Low.
The ultimate way to prevent nausea and vomiting during colonoscopy prep. is to avoid Drinking too much colon prep. too fast.
It would be best to try a “test drink” of your colon prep liquid. If you can tolerate it, then start increasing the second dose.
Most colon prep. doses are usually about 2- 4 liters. You can drink it in 2 sessions (1-2 liters/session).
We recommend you start as low as one or two Fl. Oz. (30-60 mL) as a test dose, you can drink a larger amount 15-20 minutes later if there is no nausea or vomiting.
(2) Go slow
Don’t consume the whole dose of your colon prep. solution as a single dose. Rather split them into two doses:
- The first dose: the night before colonoscopy.
- The second dose is 4-5 hours before the colonoscopy.
For each dose, you can expand the time spent drinking. For example. instead of drinking your first dose over 15-30 minutes, try to consume smaller amounts over a more extended period over 1-2 hours) [ref]
CLICK HERE TO KNOW HOW TO SPLIT DOSE YOUR COLON PREP.
(3) Already vomiting? Take a break.
If you’re already vomiting, it’s okay to pause for 30-60 minutes. This break allows your stomach to settle and reduces nausea over time. A good sign that you’re ready to resume drinking your colon prep is when the nausea begins to subside. Plus, taking a break gives you time to chill your colon prep (see the next tip).
(4) Chill your colon prep.
Refrigerating your colon prep and drinking it cold can help reduce nausea and vomiting. Cooling the prep is known to soothe your stomach. You can also sip cold water alongside your colon prep. If you’ve experienced vomiting before, consider refrigerating your colon prep during the break we mentioned earlier.
frequent drinking of small amounts of cold water helps you stay hydrated and increases the efficacy of your colon prep.
(5) Avoid too much moving.
If you feel nauseous or about to vomit, try to avoid physical activities such as:
– walking, running.
– Bending.
– Regular housework such as cooking or cleaning.
Nausea & vomiting are induced by moderate to severe forms of physical activity [ref]
Instead, Try to lie comfortably. Better in a semi-setting position until nausea & vomiting resolve.
By staying still, you are keeping your vestibular system and vomiting Centre (inside your brain) from being triggered.
Also, there is no. problem with light activities (such as moving from one room to another or using the toilet). the point is to restrict your movement when nausea is severe.
After 30-60 minutes from the last drink of colon prep, you can safely regain your physical activity.
(7) Try Over-The-Counter Antiemetic drugs.
Two main types of antiemetic medications are available over the counter:
- Bismuth subsalicylate (Brand names: Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol).
- Antihistamines: Dimenhydrinate (Dramamine) and Meclizine (Dramamine Less Drowsy).
DO NOT use Beptobismol for vomiting or nausea as it may interfere with your colonoscopy procedure (causes black stool) [ref]
You can try Dramatine or Dramamine Less Drowsy if you don’t have contraindications.
Tips on taking OTC anti-emetics to stop vomiting during colon prep: –
- Take them only if you have vomiting or severe nausea (don’t take them for mild symptoms).
- Use only antihistamines (not Pepto-Bismol).
- Carefully read the drug directions on the drug facts label
- DO NOT Use more than one antiemetic at the same time.
- DO NOT take them if you are taking any prescription medication (unless you talk to your doctor). This is especially true with: –
- Blood-Thinning medicines.
- gout & arthritis medicines.
- anti-diabetes medications.
- DO NOT take them if you have certain medical conditions (unless you talk to your doctor):
- Heart diseases & high blood pressure.
- Thyroid diseases.
- Glaucoma
- Benign prostatic hypertrophy.
- Chest diseases such as Bronchial asthma.
- If you are older than 60, DO NOT take them unless you talk to your doctor.
- Start with a low-dose tablet (50mg); you can repeat the dose 4-6 hours later.
(8) When should you call your doctor?
Some conditions & signs that you need to call your doctor about colon prep. & vomiting:
- No response to the above remedies and OTC medications.
- severe vomiting, persistent severe vomiting attacks.
- your age is older than 60, and you think you need an OTC antiemetic.
- Any vomiting-related complications, such as aspiration into the airways or vomiting blood.
- Do you think vomiting will prevent adequate colonoscopy preparation? (This is necessary to avoid failure at colonoscopy and re-colonoscopy.)
MORE:
- Evidence-based
- Written by a doctor.
