Get Virtual Care
  • Primary Care
  • Urgent Care
  • FAQs
  • Support Center
For Businesses
  • Direct Primary Care for Organizations
  • For DMEs and Pharmacies
  • For Health Plans
  • For Providers
About Us
  • Who We Are
  • Why HealthTap
  • Our Standards
  • Contact
Log in
Book a video appointment
Book now
  • Get Virtual Care

    • Primary Care
    • Urgent Care
    • FAQs
    • Support Center
  • For Businesses

    • Direct Primary Care for Organizations
    • For DMEs and Pharmacies
    • For Health Plans
    • For Providers
  • About Us

    • Who We Are
    • Why HealthTap
    • Our Standards
    • Contact
Log in to HealthTap
HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
Overview
Related questions
HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
Treatments
Bowel prep

Bowel prep

Share

Link copied

This is the flushing out of intestinal contents, usually before colonoscopy or colonic surgery. A solution which traverses the intestines without being absorbed is taken orally, causing a complete cleansing of solid stool from the colon.

Dr. Jay Stylman reviewed this

40 year experience in General Surgery

Related questions

A 47-year old asked:

How painful is bowel prep?

1 doctor answer • 4 doctors weighed in

A 49-year old asked:

Having a full bowel prep, what to expect?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 41-year old asked:

How long will it take to complete my bowel prep?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 28-year old male asked:

What is the definition or description of: bowel prep?

1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in

A 25-year old male asked:

How long should the effects of Pico-Salax bowel prep last?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 38-year old asked:

Are there any natural bowel preps I can use before my colonoscopy?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 38-year old asked:

Bowel prep causes rectal pain?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 43-year old asked:

Does bowel prep cause colitis?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 45-year old female asked:

Is bowel prep for colonoscopy safe?

2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 39-year old asked:

Why is it that i need to do a bowel prep for a hysterectomy?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 44-year old asked:

Why is it necessary for me to take a bowel prep before having a hysterectomy?

2 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

A 44-year old asked:

How long after I get done drinking bowel prep would I need to be around a toilet?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 59-year old female asked:

When should I take first dose of bowel prep solution, a couple of hours before bed?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 39-year old asked:

Is there anything I can eat or drink during my bowel prep that will make me feel full?

2 doctor answers • 4 doctors weighed in

A 38-year old asked:

Is there a difference what kind of bowel prep is done for a colonoscopy as long as the end result is the same?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 22-year old male asked:

Taking Citrafleet as bowel prep prior to colonoscopy. Is it ok to eat something light a few hours later since you took your first sachet before second?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 45-year old asked:

What happens if i don't take super bowel prep kit in time?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 39-year old asked:

I vomited stuff for bowel prep and colonoscopy in 7 hours. Is that okay?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 38-year old male asked:

Alternatives to drinking bowel prep? I'm a 100lb male that can't drink very much liquid.

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 34-year old asked:

Is it absolutely essential that I drink all of the bowel prep before I have a colonoscopy?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 43-year old female asked:

How do gastroenterologists decide which bowel prep to use? Do you get a choice or is it somehing that they get to decide and you don't get any choice?

1 doctor answer • 1 doctor weighed in

A 63-year old female asked:

Can you do a miralax bowel preps while taking prednisone? Thank you?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 27-year old asked:

Is there a pre-colonoscopy bowel prep that won't make me sit in the bathroom all night?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

A 34-year old female asked:

Doing bowel prep for colonoscopy/ged tomorrow. Only 24oz left to drink and bowel liquid isn't clear yet? Will this be a problem?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 23-year old female asked:

I have a colonoscopy tomorrow. I took my bowel prep of about an hour ago. In how much time will it start working? Will a gatorade/miralax mix not work?

4 doctor answers • 8 doctors weighed in

A 39-year old asked:

Is bowl prep necessary? What is bowel prep and why is it necessary prior to colorectal surgery?

2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

A 39-year old asked:

Can you give me suggestion: throwing up during bowel prep?

1 doctor answer • 2 doctors weighed in

A 39-year old asked:

Is it normal for a bowel prep to also make me throw up a lot?

2 doctor answers • 5 doctors weighed in

A 36-year old asked:

What is the best flavor of that drink for the bowel prep for colonoscopy?

2 doctor answers • 6 doctors weighed in

A 37-year old female asked:

Drank 80% of my bowel prep for colonoscopy then eventually fell asleep. Will I still get to have it done?

2 doctor answers • 2 doctors weighed in

HealthTap
HIPAA logo
HIPAASecure
Soc 2 Type 2 logo
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHO Accredited
JCAHOAccredited

For Businesses

Direct Primary Care for OrganizationsFor DMEs and PharmaciesFor Health PlansFor Providers

Company

About UsSupport CenterContact Us

Health Content

Health TopicsDoctor Q&A by Specialty

Join Us

For DoctorsJobs
Member App

Download HealthTap

Video visit and message your doctor

Member App QR Code
Play Store Member LinkApp Store Member Link

Questions?

+1 (888) 828-0841support@healthtap.com
LinkedInTwitter
HomeTermsPrivacyCookiesDMCAHealth TopicsDoctors DirectoryDoctor Q&A by Specialty
Copyright 2026 HealthTap, Inc.