How to Prep for Your Colonoscopy
What to Eat the Day BEFORE
Your Colonoscopy
Please follow a low residue diet and do not eat anything after starting the bowel prep. Eat what is permitted unless otherwise directed by your doctor.
What You CAN Do
- You may have a low residue breakfast only. Low residue breakfast foods include eggs, white bread, cottage cheese, yogurt, grits, coffee, and tea.
- You may have clear liquids.
What You CANNOT Do
- Do not drink milk or eat or drink anything colored red or purple.
- Do not drink alcohol.
- Do not take other laxatives while taking SUFLAVE.
- Do not take oral medications within 1 hour of starting each dose of SUFLAVE.
- If taking tetracycline or fluoroquinolone antibiotics, iron, digoxin, chlorpromazine, or penicillamine, take these medications at least 2 hours before and not less than 6 hours after administration of each dose of SUFLAVE.
Liquids That Are OK to Drink
- Coffee or tea (no cream or nondairy creamer)
- Fruit juices (without pulp)
- Gelatin desserts (no fruit or topping)
- Water
- Lemonade
- Chicken broth
SUFLAVE Split Dosing
SUFLAVE is a split-dose (2-day) regimen. A total of 2 bottles are required for complete preparation for colonoscopy. You will take 2 bottles of liquid in two separate doses. One dose of SUFLAVE is equal to one bottle plus one flavor enhancing packet.
Early in the Evening Before Your Colonoscopy
Step 1. Open 1 flavor-enhancing packet and pour the contents into 1 bottle.
Step 2. Fill the provided bottle with lukewarm water up to the fill line. After capping the bottle, gently shake the bottle until all the powder has mixed well (dissolved). For best taste, refrigerate the solution for an hour before drinking. Do not freeze. Use within 24 hours.
Step 3. Drink 8 ounces of solution every 15 minutes until the bottle is empty.
Step 4. Drink an additional 16 ounces of water during the evening.
IMPORTANT: If nausea, bloating, or abdominal cramping occurs, pause or slow the rate of drinking the solution and additional water until symptoms diminish.
The Morning of the Colonoscopy (5 to 8 hours prior to the colonoscopy, but no sooner than 4 hours from starting Dose 1)
Step 1. Repeat Step 1 to Step 3 from Day 1, Dose 1.
Step 2. Drink an additional 16 ounces of water during the morning.
IMPORTANT: Continue to consume only clear liquids until after the colonoscopy. Stop drinking liquids at least 2 hours prior to colonoscopy.
Note
- SUFLAVE is an osmotic laxative indicated for cleansing of the colon in preparation for colonoscopy in adults.
- Be sure to tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. SUFLAVE may affect how other medicines work.
- Medication taken by mouth may not be absorbed properly when taken within 1 hour before the start of each dose of SUFLAVE.
- The most common adverse reactions after administration of SUFLAVE were nausea, abdominal distension, vomiting, abdominal pain, and headache.
- If nausea, bloating, or abdominal cramping occurs, pause or slow the rate of drinking the solution and additional water until symptoms diminish.
- Contact your healthcare provider if you develop significant vomiting or signs of dehydration after taking SUFLAVE or if you experience cardiac arrhythmias or seizures.
- If you have any questions about taking SUFLAVE, call your doctor.
SUFLAVE® (polyethylene glycol 3350, sodium sulfate, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate, and sodium chloride for oral solution)
Indications and Usage
SUFLAVE is indicated for the cleansing of the colon as a preparation for colonoscopy in adults.
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Contraindications
SUFLAVE is contraindicated in the following conditions:
- Gastrointestinal obstruction or ileus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]
- Bowel perforation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]
- Toxic colitis or toxic megacolon
- Gastric retention
- Hypersensitivity to any ingredient in SUFLAVE [see Warnings and Precautions (5.8)]
Warnings and Precautions
-
Serious Fluid and Electrolyte Abnormalities: Advise all patients to hydrate adequately before, during, and after the use of SUFLAVE. If a patient develops significant vomiting or signs of dehydration after taking SUFLAVE, consider performing post-colonoscopy lab tests (electrolytes, creatinine, and BUN).Bowel preparation products can cause fluid and electrolyte disturbances, which can lead to serious adverse reactions including cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, and renal impairment [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. Correct fluid and electrolyte abnormalities before treatment with SUFLAVE. Use SUFLAVE with caution in patients with conditions, or who are using medications [such as diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)], that increase the risk for fluid and electrolyte disturbances or may increase the risk of seizure, arrhythmias, and renal impairment [see Drug Interactions (7.1)].
- Cardiac Arrhythmias: There have been rare reports of serious arrhythmias associated with the use of ionic osmotic laxative products for bowel preparation. These occur predominantly in patients with underlying cardiac risk factors and electrolyte disturbances. Use caution when prescribing SUFLAVE for patients at increased risk of arrhythmias (e.g., patients with a history of prolonged QT interval, uncontrolled arrhythmias, recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, or cardiomyopathy). Consider pre-dose and post-colonoscopy ECGs in patients at increased risk of serious cardiac arrhythmias.
-
Seizures: There have been reports of generalized tonic-clonic seizures and/or loss of consciousness associated with use of bowel preparation products in patients with no prior history of seizures. The seizure cases were associated with electrolyte abnormalities (e.g., hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, and hypomagnesemia) and low serum osmolality. The neurologic abnormalities resolved with correction of fluid and electrolyte abnormalities.Use caution when prescribing SUFLAVE for patients with a history of seizures and in patients at increased risk of seizure, such as patients taking medications that lower the seizure threshold (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants), patients withdrawing from alcohol or benzodiazepines, or patients with known or suspected hyponatremia [see Drug Interactions (7.1)].
- Use in Patients with Risk of Renal Injury: Use SUFLAVE with caution in patients with impaired renal function or patients taking concomitant medications that may affect renal function (such as diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) [see Drug Interactions (7.1)]. These patients may be at risk for renal injury. Advise these patients of the importance of adequate hydration with SUFLAVE and consider performing baseline and post-colonoscopy laboratory tests (electrolytes, creatinine, and BUN) in these patients [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6)].
- Colonic Mucosal Ulcerations and Ischemic Colitis: Osmotic laxative products may produce colonic mucosal aphthous ulcerations, and there have been reports of more serious cases of ischemic colitis requiring hospitalization. Concurrent use of stimulant laxatives and SUFLAVE may increase these risks [see Drug Interactions (7.3)]. Consider the potential for mucosal ulcerations resulting from the bowel preparation when interpreting colonoscopy findings in patients with known or suspect inflammatory bowel disease.
-
Use in Patients with Significant Gastrointestinal Disease: If gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation is suspected, perform appropriate diagnostic studies to rule out these conditions before administering SUFLAVE [see Contraindications (4)].Use with caution in patients with severe active ulcerative colitis.
-
Aspiration: Patients with impaired gag reflex or other swallowing abnormalities are at risk for regurgitation or aspiration of SUFLAVE. Observe these patients during administration of SUFLAVE.Do not combine SUFLAVE with starch-based thickeners [see Dosage and Administration (2.1)]. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), a component of SUFLAVE, when mixed with starch-thickened liquids reduces the viscosity of the starch-thickened liquid. When a PEG-based product used for another indication was mixed in starch-based pre-thickened liquids used in patients with dysphagia, thinning of the liquid occurred and cases of choking and potential aspiration were reported.
- Hypersensitivity Reactions: SUFLAVE contains polyethylene glycol (PEG) and other ingredients that may cause serious hypersensitivity reactions including anaphylaxis, angioedema, rash, urticaria, and pruritus [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis, and instruct them to seek immediate medical care should signs and symptoms occur.
Adverse Reactions
Most common adverse reactions (≥2%) are: nausea, abdominal distension, vomiting, abdominal pain and headache.
These are not all the possible side effects of SUFLAVE. Please see Adverse Reactions (6) in the Prescribing Information for a full list.
Drug Interactions
Drugs that increase risk of fluid and electrolyte imbalance. (7.1)
To Report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-461-7449, or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/MedWatch.
SUFLAVE® is a registered trademark of Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
PP-SUF-6488-US-EN-v1
View the Full Prescribing Information and Medication Guide.
References:
1. SUFLAVE [package insert]. Woburn, MA: Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
2. Bhandari R, Goldstein M, Mishkin DS, et al. Comparison of a novel,
SUTAB® (sodium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, and potassium chloride) tablets, for oral use
Indications and Usage
SUTAB is indicated for the cleansing of the colon as a preparation for colonoscopy in adults.
ADDITIONAL IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
Contraindications
SUTAB is contraindicated in the following conditions:
- Gastrointestinal obstruction or ileus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]
- Bowel perforation [see Warnings and Precautions (5.6)]
- Toxic colitis or toxic megacolon
- Gastric retention
- Hypersensitivity to any ingredient in SUTAB [see Warnings and Precautions (5.7) and Description (11)]
Warnings and Precautions
- Serious Fluid and Electrolyte Abnormalities: Advise all patients to hydrate adequately before, during, and after the use of SUTAB. If a patient develops significant vomiting or signs of dehydration after taking SUTAB, consider performing post-colonoscopy lab tests (electrolytes, creatinine, and BUN). Fluid and electrolyte disturbances can lead to serious adverse events including cardiac arrhythmias, seizures and renal impairment. Correct fluid and electrolyte abnormalities before treatment with SUTAB. Use SUTAB with caution in patients with conditions, or who are using medications, that increase the risk for fluid and electrolyte disturbances or may increase the risk of adverse events of seizure, arrhythmias, and renal impairment [see Drug Interactions (7.1)].
- Cardiac Arrhythmias: There have been rare reports of serious arrhythmias associated with the use of ionic osmotic laxative products for bowel preparation. Use caution when prescribing SUTAB for patients at increased risk of arrhythmias (e.g., patients with a history of prolonged QT, uncontrolled arrhythmias, recent myocardial infarction, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, or cardiomyopathy). Consider pre-dose and post-colonoscopy ECGs in patients at increased risk of serious cardiac arrhythmias.
-
Seizures: There have been reports of generalized tonic-clonic seizures and/or loss of consciousness associated with use of bowel preparation products in patients with no prior history of seizures. The seizure cases were associated with electrolyte abnormalities (e.g., hyponatremia, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, and hypomagnesemia) and low serum osmolality. The neurologic abnormalities resolved with correction of fluid and electrolyte abnormalities.Use caution when prescribing SUTAB for patients with a history of seizures and in patients at increased risk of seizure, such as patients taking medications that lower the seizure threshold (e.g., tricyclic antidepressants), patients withdrawing from alcohol or benzodiazepines, or patients with known or suspected hyponatremia [see Drug Interactions (7.1)].
- Use in Patients with Risk of Renal Injury: Use SUTAB with caution in patients with impaired renal function or patients taking concomitant medications that may affect renal function (such as diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) [see Drug Interactions (7.1)]. These patients may be at risk for renal injury. Advise these patients of the importance of adequate hydration with SUTAB and consider performing baseline and post-colonoscopy laboratory tests (electrolytes, creatinine, and BUN) in these patients [see Use in Specific Populations (8.6)].
- Colonic Mucosal Ulcerations and Ischemic Colitis: Osmotic laxative products may produce colonic mucosal aphthous ulcerations, and there have been reports of more serious cases of ischemic colitis requiring hospitalization. Concurrent use of stimulant laxatives and SUTAB may increase these risks [see Drug Interactions (7.3)]. Consider the potential for mucosal ulcerations resulting from the bowel preparation when interpreting colonoscopy findings in patients with known or suspect inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
-
Use in Patients with Significant Gastrointestinal Disease: If gastrointestinal obstruction or perforation is suspected, perform appropriate diagnostic studies to rule out these conditions before administering SUTAB [see Contraindications (4)].Use with caution in patients with severe active ulcerative colitis.
- Hypersensitivity Reactions: Serious hypersensitivity reactions, including anaphylaxis, angioedema, dyspnea, rash, pruritus and urticaria have been reported with SUTAB [see Adverse Reactions (6.2)]. Inform patients of the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis and instruct them to seek immediate medical care should signs and symptoms occur.
- Risk of Gastrointestinal Complications with Ingestion of Desiccant: Each SUTAB bottle contains a desiccant. Remove and discard the desiccant from both bottles of SUTAB the evening prior to the colonoscopy [see Dosage and Administration (2.2)]. Postmarketing reports of patients ingesting the desiccant along with the SUTAB tablets has been reported and may be associated with risk of gastrointestinal complications and/or choking.
Adverse Reactions
Most common gastrointestinal adverse reactions are nausea, abdominal distension, vomiting, and upper abdominal pain.
These are not all the possible side effects of SUTAB. Please see Adverse Reactions (6) in the Prescribing Information for a full list.
Drug Interactions
Drugs that increase risk of fluid and electrolyte imbalance. (7.1)
To Report SUSPECTED ADVERSE REACTIONS, contact Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. at 1-800-461-7449, or FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/MedWatch.
SUTAB® is a registered trademark of Azurity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
PP-STB-6510-US-EN-v1
