Moviprep as Preparation for Colonoscopy

The following information is to help you take Moviprep. The success and accuracy of colonoscopy depends mostly on the adequacy of this essential preparation.

You need to be near a bathroom while taking bowel preparation.

Morning (08:00 – 12:00): Morning Patients Info


Timetable for Preparation
Seven days before your colonoscopy
  • Stop taking iron tablets until after the procedure.
  • Stop taking Clopidogrel – please check with your GP/Cardiologist/doctor that you are able to stop this drug without taking anything to replace it.


Five days before your colonoscopy
  • Stop taking anticoagulants such as Warfarin – please check with your GP/Cardiologist/doctor that you are able to stop this without taking anything to replace it.
  • Stop taking any constipation medicines i.e. Lomotil, codeine phosphate etc.
  • Continue taking all other medication as prescribed and any laxatives until after your appointment.


Two days before your colonoscopy Food and Drink
  • Try to drink two litres of clear fluids (eight – ten glasses) per day until the day of the procedure. Examples of clear fluids are black tea, coffee, fruit squash, water, clear soups (without bits in).
  • Stop taking novel anticoagulents (eg Dagibatrin; Rivaroxaban) – please check with your GP/Cardiologist/doctor that you are able to stop this drug without taking anything to replace it.
  • Eat only food from the following list:
    • Boiled or steamed white fish
    • Chicken (no skins)
    • Egg
    • Cheese
    • White Bread
    • Plain Muffins
    • Butter
    • Margarine
    • White Rice
    • White Pasta
    • Rich Tea Biscuits
    • Potatoes/Pumpkin (No Skins)
    • Cauliflower/Asparagus Tips Only
    • Tofu
    • Natural Yoghurts
    • Plain Cottage Cheese
    • Tinned Peaches/Pineapple
    • Plain Sponge Cakes
  • Do not eat:
    • High Fibre Foods such as Meat
    • Pink Fish
    • Raw Fruit or other Vegetables
    • Skins/Pips
    • Cereals
    • Salad
    • Mushrooms
    • Nuts/Seeds
    • Sweetcorn
    • Wholemeal Bread etc.


The day before your procedure
  • Stop eating solid food from 12 noon the day before your procedure.
  • After this you can only have clear fluids. These are any liquids that are not cloudy. Examples of clear fluids that are OK to drink are water, black tea or coffee, fizzy and non fizzy soft drinks, cordials and clear soup.
  • You will be given three 7.5 mg Senna Tablets (Senna Max). Take them at 12 noon, with some water.
  • You should start taking Moviprep at about 5 pm.


How to Prepare Moviprep?
  1. Open up one clear bag and remove sachets A and B.
  2. Add the content of both sachets to 1 litre of water and stir until the powder has dissolved.
  3. You can put the mixture in the fridge if you wish. It may make it easier to drink.
  4. At 5 pm start drinking the preparation. Drink a glass every 15 minutes until it is finished. REMEMBER TO DRINK AT LEAST AN EXTRA 500 ML OF WATER AS WELL AS THE ONE LITRE OF MOVIPREP SOLUTION.
  5. The second part of the preparation can either be taken late in the evening or very early the next morning (early the next morning is preferable and if possible please try to do this):
    • Either drink the second litre of Moviprep at 8-9 pm, following the same instructions as above;
    • Or drink the second litre of Moviprep at least 5 hours before your test (e.g. @ 4-5 am if your colonoscopy is scheduled for 9-10 am), following the same instructions as above;
  6. REMEMBER TO DRINK AT LEAST AN EXTRA 500 ML OF WATER AS WELL AS THE ONE LITRE OF MOVIPREP SOLUTION.


On the day of your colonoscopy:
  • Please take any other regular prescribed medication with a small amount of water before 7am, unless otherwise instructed by the pre-assessment nurses.
  • You may drink small quantities of water up until your arrival at the department (unless gastroscopy is also occurring- see below).


What Will the Preparation Do?
The preparation has a laxative effect and will make your bowels clear. It is VERY important that you take all the preparation in order to ensure that the bowel is clear prior to the examination. Throughout the preparation it is recommended that you keep drinking clear fluids to prevent dehydration. You may experience stomach cramps and diarrhoea during the preparation. The time taken for the laxative to work varies. If you tend to be constipated it may take some hours to take effect in which case you should start the preparation an hour or so earlier.


What if I am Having a Gastroscopy (Examination of the Stomach) as well?
If you are having a gastroscopy as well as a colonoscopy, you should drink nothing at all for 4 hours before your appointment.

Remember, if you are a diabetic or taking anticoagulants (drugs used to thin the blood), contact your doctor regarding specific instructions.

Afternoon (12:00 – 17:00): Afternoon Patients Info


Timetable for Preparation
Seven days before your colonoscopy
  • Stop taking iron tablets until after the procedure.
  • Stop taking Clopidogrel – please check with your GP/Cardiologist/doctor that you are able to stop this drug without taking anything to replace it.


Five days before your colonoscopy
  • Stop taking anticoagulants such as Warfarin – please check with your GP/Cardiologist/doctor that you are able to stop this without taking anything to replace it.
  • Stop taking any constipation medicines i.e. Lomotil, codeine phosphate etc.
  • Continue taking all other medication as prescribed and any laxatives until after your appointment.


Two days before your colonoscopy Food and Drink
  • Try to drink two litres of clear fluids (eight – ten glasses) per day until the day of the procedure. Examples of clear fluids are black tea, coffee, fruit squash, water, clear soups (without bits in).
  • Stop taking novel anticoagulents (eg Dagibatrin; Rivaroxaban) – please check with your GP/Cardiologist/doctor that you are able to stop this drug without taking anything to replace it.
  • Eat only food from the following list:
    • Boiled or steamed white fish
    • Chicken (no skins)
    • Egg
    • Cheese
    • White Bread
    • Plain Muffins
    • Butter
    • Margarine
    • White Rice
    • White Pasta
    • Rich Tea Biscuits
    • Potatoes/Pumpkin (No Skins)
    • Cauliflower/Asparagus Tips Only
    • Tofu
    • Natural Yoghurts
    • Plain Cottage Cheese
    • Tinned Peaches/Pineapple
    • Plain Sponge Cakes
  • Do not eat:
    • High Fibre Foods such as Meat
    • Pink Fish
    • Raw Fruit or other Vegetables
    • Skins/Pips
    • Cereals
    • Salad
    • Mushrooms
    • Nuts/Seeds
    • Sweetcorn
    • Wholemeal Bread etc.


The day before your procedure
  • Stop eating solid food from 2 PM the day before your procedure.
  • After this you can only have clear fluids. These are any liquids that are not cloudy. Examples of clear fluids that are OK to drink are water, black tea or coffee, fizzy and non fizzy soft drinks, cordials and clear soup.
  • You will be given three 7.5 mg Senna Tablets (Senna Max). Take them at 2 PM, with some water.
  • You should start taking Moviprep at about 7 pm.


How to Prepare Moviprep?
  1. Open up one clear bag and remove sachets A and B.
  2. Add the content of both sachets to 1 litre of water and stir until the powder has dissolved.
  3. You can put the mixture in the fridge if you wish. It may make it easier to drink.
  4. At 7 pm start drinking the preparation. Drink a glass every 15 minutes until it is finished. REMEMBER TO DRINK AT LEAST AN EXTRA 500 ML OF WATER AS WELL AS THE ONE LITRE OF MOVIPREP SOLUTION.
  5. Drink the second litre of Moviprep the next morning, and at least 5 hours before your test (e.g. no later than between 7 and 9 am if your colonoscopy is scheduled for 1 pm), following the same instructions as above. REMEMBER TO DRINK AT LEAST AN EXTRA 500 ML OF WATER AS WELL AS THE ONE LITRE OF MOVIPREP SOLUTION.


On the day of your colonoscopy:
  • Please take any other regular prescribed medication with a small amount of water before 7am, unless otherwise instructed by the pre-assessment nurses.
  • You may drink small quantities of water up until your arrival at the department (unless gastroscopy is also occurring- see below).


What Will the Preparation Do?
The preparation has a laxative effect and will make your bowels clear. It is VERY important that you take all the preparation in order to ensure that the bowel is clear prior to the examination. Throughout the preparation it is recommended that you keep drinking clear fluids to prevent dehydration. You may experience stomach cramps and diarrhea during the preparation. The time taken for the laxative to work varies. If you tend to be constipated it may take some hours to take effect in which case you should start the preparation an hour or so earlier.


What if I am Having a Gastroscopy (Examination of the Stomach) as well?
If you are having a gastroscopy as well as a colonoscopy, you should drink nothing at all for 4 hours before your appointment.

Remember, if you are a diabetic or taking anticoagulants (drugs used to thin the blood), contact your doctor regarding specific instructions.