I have had two colonscopies - one 10 years ago and one five years ago with a couple of benign polyps found at the first one. The thought of drinking that fleet phospho-soda (oral saline laxative) is enough to make me sick thinking about it. I did get sick to my stomach the last time.

The doctor will prescribe visicol tables - you take 4 pills every 15 minutes and drink 8 ozs of clear liquid with each dose (total of 24 pills and 48 ozs. of clear liquid) and one can of ginger ale with the last dose. Then five hours before arriving for the procedure you take two more doses with clear liquid (8 more pills and 16 ozs) and one can of ginger ale.

Has anyone taken the pills? What was your experience? It sounds like a lot of pills and liquid to consume but drinking that oral saline stuff is just nasty. I was taking a few sips (they say drink it slowly) and drinking Sprite, eating popsicles the last time but nothing could stop that awful taste.

I am just concerned about getting the 48 ozs. of liquid and the can of Sprite down. I may have to not drink anything all day! I am going to start the liquid diet at least two days before the procedure.

Any advice?

The newest addition to the Salix gastroenterology product line is VISICOL® (sodium phosphate monobasic monohydrate, USP, and sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous, USP) Tablets.


VISICOL Tablets are the only FDA approved tablets available to adults 18 years of age and older for bowel preparation prior to colonoscopy. These tasteless tablets may be taken with any clear liquid. A study by the Mayo Clinic indicated that the unpalatable taste of liquid bowel preparations is a leading deterrent to patients consenting to colonoscopy.1

I can't stand that salty stuff either, the Nulytly and the magnesium citrate. It sounds like I would go with these new pills, and the 48 OZ of liquid is just so you wont choke on the pills, and that they help dissolve the tablets. Seems like you should consider it , if your like me, I wish I had this choice when I had my Colonoscopy, good luck, Shane

I don't know if this gets to you too late, but I used the tables a year and a half ago. I never had to experience the liquid. You may think it's a lot, but it's not too bad. I don't drink a lot but I didn't have much of a problem. Towards the end of all the pills I was getting a little naseau. The pills do get salty in your mouth. I'm sure not as bad as drinking somehting. Swallow then as quick as you can; it isn't too too bad. Also, the last drink, about ginger ale, It's ok if you don't do that or just a little and then water. I don't drink anything carbonated and my Dr said it wasn't too big of a deal. It's the bubbles that just help it get going faster. Hope this helps and good luck!!!

I wish pills had been offered to me. I had to drink a liter of "golightley". It was the most digusting stuff. One cup every 10 minutes for 3 hours. I almost threw up. It was days before that taste was out of my mouth.The only good thing about it was after 2 days of a liquid diet it had electrolytes so I didn't feel weak at all after the test.

I don't know if I'd like taking those pills again 5 hours before. Does that mean you have to stay up the entire night? Good luck tomorrow.

Same here, I had the golytly, and it was so bad, I couldn't do it, I thought I was drinking salt sea water, lol. So since I didn't drink it, they still were able to do a sigmoidoscopy, they could only go so far up because of stool in the way. But everthing was ok. Maybe I could do the golytly if I had to only swig one glass, but no way was I going to be able to down a gallon of it. So next time I'll try the tablets.

I am glad you started this thread, I was just fixing too, lol.
I have to do this on Sunday night, with the pills and was wodnering how it would be. Doesn't sound nearly as bad as the drinking! That was awful! I don't think I could do that again! Last time, I made DH taste a little of it, just to see why I was carrying on so, and he threw up! With one little taste. I think I can handle the salty, try somethng with a strong taste, lemonade maybe to take it with. That's allowed on my paper.
One thing though, how long after you took the last dose were you still going to the bathroom. My last doese is at 9pm, and my test is at 10am. will I still be going then?

you might still be going a little, but by then it will probably be mostly water.