General points to remember

Please Note:

1. If you are a diabetic and receiving oral diabetic agents, please do not take these medications the day before and the day of your procedure. 

2. If you are diabetic and receiving insulin, please discuss this with our office at least seven (7) days prior to your colonoscopy/endoscopy. 

3. If you are taking Coumadin (warfarin), please discuss this with our office at least seven (7) days prior to your colonoscopy/endoscopy. 

4. If you are taking steroid medications (e.g. Prednisone, Decadron, Medrol), please discuss this with our office at least seven (7) days prior to your colonoscopy/endoscopy. 

5. If you have had a cardiac valve replacement or a history of endocarditis (infection or inflammation of a heart valve generally requiring prolonged intravenous antibiotic therapy), please discuss this with our office at least seven (7) days prior to your colonoscopy/endoscopy. 

6. Do not take the following medications for a period of seven (7) days prior to your colonoscopy/endoscopy: aspirin or aspirin-containing medications (e.g. Anacin, Bufferin, Alka-Seltzer), and iron (including multivitamins that contain iron). 

7. Do not take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s, e.g., Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, Naprosyn, Voltaren, Vioxx, Celebrex, and others)for a period of three (3) days prior to your colonoscopy/endoscopy. 

8. All other medications including antiplatelet drugs [e.g. Plavix (clopidogrel), Ticlid (ticlopidine), Pletal (cilostazol)] may be continued without change and may be taken up to and including the day of your colonoscopy/endoscopy.

9. If you have a history of congestive heart failure, liver disease or kidney disease, please discuss your preparation instructions with our office at least seven (7) days prior to your colonoscopy/endoscopy. 

10. Since you will be given a sedative for this examination, you must have a responsible adult take you home and accompany you into your residence. As well, you must have a responsible adult stay with you for the next 24 hours. You should plan on limiting your activity and resting at home for the remainder of the day. You must not drive a motor vehicle or operate machinery for the next 24 hours. If there is a problem with these arrangements, please inform this office to allow for rescheduling of your procedure. Sedation for your procedure cannot be administered unless these arrangements are completed. 

11. If you have an insurance plan that requires a referral (MVP, CDPHP, Senior Blue, many others), please be sure our office has a referral from your primary care physician to cover this procedure. If your insurance requires pre-authorization, please be sure our office has obtained this