Picolax/Citrafleet – bowel preparation

How to take Picolax/Citrafleet bowel preparation.

When to take PICOLAX/CITRAFLEET (Sodium Picosulfate)

If your appointment is between 8.00 am and 1.00 pm

The day before the procedure

For your meals the day before procedure choose only foods from the following list: Do not eat after 1.30 pm.

  • Milk, plain yoghurt, cheese, eggs, butter, margarine
  • White fish or chicken – boiled, steamed or grilled (not fried)
  • White bread, pitta, rice, pasta. Chapattis made with white flour
  • Clear soups – no bits
  • Plain ice cream (any flavour – no fruit or nut pieces)
  • Clear jelly, boiled sweets, chocolate (no fruit or nut pieces)
  • Salt, pepper, sugar, sweeteners, honey, marmite

You MUST NOT EAT red meat, pink fish (e.g. salmon), fruit, vegetables, salad, potatoes, granary, seeded or brown bread, brown or wild rice, brown pasta, pickles or chutneys.

From 1.30 pm do not eat any more solid food until after the examination. However it is important that you drink plenty of fluid as follows:

Drink at least one large glass (approx. 250ml) of clear fluid (see list below) every hour from 1.00 pm to 9.00 pm.

Check times:
( ) 1 pm ( ) 2 pm ( ) 3 pm ( ) 4 pm ( ) 5 pm
( ) 6 pm ( ) 7 pm ( ) 8 pm ( ) 9 pm

You may drink any of the following: tea and coffee (with only a small amount of milk), herbal teas, water, squash, fizzy drinks, sports drinks, meat extract drinks (e.g. Bovril or Oxo), vegetable
bouillon, very clear soups (no bits) clear apple juice (no other fruit juice is permitted), clear jelly.

Take one sachet between 4.00 pm and 6.00 pm.

Mix the contents of the sachet with approximately 150ml of cold water and stir for two to three minutes before drinking. Do not worry if the solution becomes warm or hot – allow it to cool a little before drinking.

The morning of the procedure

Do not eat any solid food until after the examination.

Take the second sachet at 5.00 am

Mix the sachet as before. If your appointment is around 9.00 am and you have a distance to travel you may wish to take this a little earlier (do not take before 3.00 am).

You must continue to drink plenty of fluid from the list given – start at 6.00 am and drink at least 250ml every hour up to two hours before your appointment, then stop drinking until after the test.

PLEASE DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL ON THE DAYS YOU TAKE THE PICOLAX OR CITRAFLEET

The solution will cause you to pass watery stools so you should stay near a toilet.

Take your usual medication (unless you have been advised to stop it) at least one hour before or after you take the bowel preparation. If you are taking the oral contraceptive pill you
should take other precautions for one week after the test

When to take PICOLAX OR CITRAFLEET (Sodium Picosulfate)

If your appointment is after 1.00 pm

The day before the procedure

For your meals the day before the procedure choose only foods from the following list: Do not eat after 4.00 pm.

  • Milk, plain yoghurt, cheese, eggs, butter, margarine
  • White fish or chicken – boiled, steamed or grilled (not fried)
  • White bread, pitta, rice, pasta. Chapattis made with white flour
  • Clear soups – no bits
  • Plain ice cream (any flavour – no fruit or nut pieces)
  • Clear jelly, boiled sweets, chocolate (no fruit or nut pieces)
  • Salt, pepper, sugar, sweeteners, Honey, marmite

You MUST NOT EAT red meat, pink fish (e.g. salmon), fruit, vegetables, salad, potatoes, granary, seeded or brown bread, brown or wild rice, brown pasta, pickles or chutneys.

From 4.00 pm do not eat any more solid food until after the examination. However it is important that you drink plenty of fluids as follows:

Drink at least one large glass (approx. 250ml) of clear fluid (see list below) every hour from 1.00 pm to 9.00 pm.

Check times:
( ) 1 pm ( ) 2 pm ( ) 3 pm ( ) 4 pm ( ) 5 pm
( ) 6 pm ( ) 7 pm ( ) 8 pm ( ) 9 pm

You may drink any of the following: tea and coffee (with only a small amount of milk), herbal teas, water, squash, fizzy drinks, sports drinks, meat extract drinks (e.g. Bovril or Oxo), vegetable
bouillon, very clear soups (no bits) clear apple juice (no other fruit juice is permitted), clear jelly.

Take the first sachet at 6.00 pm.

Mix the contents of the sachet with approximately 150ml of cold water and stir for two to three minutes before drinking. Do not worry if the solution becomes warm or hot – allow it to cool a little before drinking.

The morning of the procedure

Do not eat any solid food until after the examination. Take the second sachet at 9.00 am.

Mix the sachet as before.

You must continue to drink plenty of fluid from the list given – start at 8.00 am and drink at least 250ml every hour up to two hours before your appointment, then stop drinking until after the test.

PLEASE DO NOT DRINK ALCOHOL ON THE DAYS YOU TAKE THE PICOLAX OR CITRAFLEET

The solution will cause you to pass watery stools so you should stay near a toilet.

Take your usual medication (unless you have been advised to stop it) at least one hour before or after you take the bowel preparation. If you are taking the oral contraceptive pill you
should take other precautions for one week after the test.