Bowel Prep: How to take Picolax
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You have been prescribed Picolax as a laxative to empty your bowel in preparation for your colonoscopy.
It does this by causing you to have diarrhoea, or frequent bowel movements. A clean bowel will allow the endoscopist to have a clear view of the inner lining of your bowel, which is important for accurate diagnosis and treatment.
Please ensure that you follow the instructions carefully as your procedure may have to be cancelled and/or repeated at another time if your bowel is not clean enough.
These instructions may differ slightly from the manufacturer’s information leaflet, however, please follow this schedule.
Do not take if you are allergic to any of the ingredients.
Expected side effects?
- You will experience diarrhoea as the purpose of Picolax is to clear and cleanse the bowel.
- You are also likely to experience some abdominal cramping.
- Some patients may experience nausea and/or vomiting – if this is a problem, wait for ½ hour and then recommence taking Picolax. Chilled Picolax, drinking it through a straw and/or sucking a sweet may help resolve some side effects.
- It is important that you continue to drink adequate amounts of fluid to avoid dehydration.
Very Common
- Abdominal pain, a feeling of fullness in your stomach, bloating, tiredness, soreness/ pain of the anus (bottom), thirst and nausea.
Common
- Hunger, headache, problems sleeping, dizziness, vomiting, indigestion, and chills.
Adverse reactions
- Rarely, people can be allergic to Picolax and may get an itchy rash (nettle rash or hives).
If any of the side effects become serious, or do not ease, or if you at all worried, or you notice any side- effects not listed above, you must seek advice from:
- Endoscopy Department Tel: 01908 996460 (Monday-Friday;8am- 6pm)
- Your GP
- NHS 111 Tel: 111
What is Picolax and how to take it?
Picolax is a laxative designed to cleanse your bowel.
PICOLAX® comes in a two-dose preparation:
All sachets must be taken with the right amount of water according to the timing of your appointment.
How to prepare for your procedure
7 days before your appointment
Stop taking any iron tablets as this can affect the quality of your test.
5 days before your appointment
Stop eating any food containing nuts/seeds/salads.
If you take any opioids painkillers (such as morphine/codeine/codydramol) on daily basis, consider the possibility to stop them or reduce the usual amount to increase the effectiveness of the laxatives.
2 days before your appointment
Start with your low fibre diet (Please see the list of foods and drinks allowed on page 6) and stay on this diet until the procedure is done.
A low fibre diet before taking your laxative plays a key-role in making sure that your flexible sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy is effective.
How to prepare PICOLAX
Please make sure that you read the full instruction before you start preparing the laxative.
| Because heat is generated when the powder is added to water each sachet should be mixed in the following way:
1. Dissolve the contents of the sachet in 3-4 tablespoons of cold water in a mug. Wait for at least 5 minutes as the solution will become hot.
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| 2. Dilute with cold water to make ½ a mugful (around 150mls) then stir.
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| Before taking the laxative, check the time of your appointment and select the appropriate page of instruction listed below.
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| Morning Appointment | Afternoon Appointment |
| Follow instruction at page 4 | Follow instruction at page 5 |
It is important that you take all two doses of the medication, Picolax works by emptying the content of your bowel, so you should expect to have watery bowel movements.
You may want to ensure you have some soft toilet paper or wet wipes and you are allowed to apply a cream to the area if necessary.
Instructions for morning appointment
If you have been given a morning appointment, follow these instructions:
1 day before your appointment
7 am Breakfast –See allowed food list (page 6).
No further solid foods until after the procedure – clear fluids only
You can make up the Picolax solution (see page 3) now and refrigerate to make it easier to drink.
9 am – Start drinking the first mug of Picolax preparation.
It is important to drink at least an additional 250ml of water (1 glasses) or clear fluids every hour.
12 – 12:30 noon – Liquid Lunch
4 pm – Start drinking the second mug of Picolax preparation.
It is important to drink at least an additional 250ml of water (1 glasses) or clear fluids every hour.
7:00 – 7:30 pm – Liquid Supper
Continue to drink water or clear fluids
The day of your appointment
No solid food.
If you take blood pressure tablets, please take these with a small amount of water on the morning of your procedure.
Stop drinking 2 hours before your appointment time or 4 hours if you are having a Gastroscopy & Colonoscopy.
Instructions for afternoon appointment
If you have been given an afternoon appointment, follow these instructions:
1 day before your appointment
7-8 am Breakfast – See allowed food list (page 6).
1pm Lunch – Have a light meal from the allowed foods list (page 6).
No further solid foods until after the procedure – clear fluids only
5:00 – 5:30 pm – Liquid Supper
You can make up the Picolax solution (see page 3) now and refrigerate to make it easier to drink.
7 pm – Start drinking the first mug of Picolax preparation.
It is important to drink at least an additional 250ml of water (1 glasses) or clear fluids every hour.The day of your appointment
No solid food.
If you take blood pressure tablets, please take these with water at least one hour before the final Picolax on the morning of your procedure.
7:00 am – Start drinking the second mug of Picolax preparation.
It is important to drink at least an additional 250ml of water (1 glasses) or clear fluids.
Stop drinking 2 hours before your appointment time or 4 hours if you are having a Gastroscopy & Colonoscopy.
Information for patients with diabetes
Low Fibre Diet and Drinks
Here is a summary of the main food and drink allowed, you may want to cut it to put it on your fridge or take a photo on your phone to help with your food shopping before your procedure.
| Low residue foods you can eat | High Fibre foods to avoid |
| ü White cereals such as cornflakes or rice-based cereals.
ü White rice and pasta. ü Plain white biscuits such as rich tea, custard creams, nice or malted milk. ü White bread, crumpets, and scones (without dried fruit). ü Well cooked meat, fish, cheese, or egg ü Potatoes without the skin. ü Jelly (NOT red ones)
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× Bread – wholemeal, high bran, granary, high fibre or half wholegrain.
× Wholemeal pittas, chapattis and muffins. × Cereal bars, digestive biscuits, fruit cake, fig rolls. × Wholemeal lasagne/pasta. × Brown rice. × High fibre or bran crisp breads and crackers. × Wholemeal, wholegrain bran or high fibre cereals, porridge, and muesli. × Nuts. × Fruit – fresh, frozen, cooked, and dried. × Beans, lentils, and chickpeas. × Potatoes with skin on. |
| Drinks allowed | Drinks to avoid |
| ü Water
ü Tea and/or coffee without milk ü Soft drinks ü Fruit juices without pulp ü Clear soup |
× Alcohol
× Milk × Any red or purple drink × Drinks containing pulp |