A colonoscopy procedure allows your doctor to closely examine the inside of the colon and rectum for abnormalities such as polyps. Several medications may be used before and during the procedure.
Before the Exam
Before the examination, your doctor will prescribe a bowel preparation that acts as a powerful laxative to cleanse the patient's insides. Any stool can obscure the colon and allow polyps and other growths to escape detection. Over-the-counter laxatives and/or an enema may also be prescribed.
Minor Complications
Heavy bowel movements could lead to skin irritation around the anus. Over-the-counter preparations such as Vaseline and Desitin may be used to help relieve those symptoms.
During the Procedure
Doctors administer a sedative and a pain reliever intravenously. A common painkiller used is Demerol. The tranquilizer Versed is commonly used as a sedative.
During a virtual colonoscopy, no sedatives are used. However, if your doctor discovers polyps, he may perform a traditional colonoscopy with a sedative.
Side Effects
Some people may develop adverse reactions to the sedatives (4 in 100,000), including breathing problems and low blood pressure. In addition, all patients will need additional time to recover from the sedatives after the procedure.
After the Colonoscopy
Patients will require someone to bring them home from the procedure, as the sedatives can take several hours or longer to completely wear off. The sedatives will impair driving.
If polyps have been removed, patients may be advised to avoid painkillers such as aspirin and NSAIDs for up two weeks following the procedure to decrease the risk of bleeding. Acetaminophen products such as Tylenol may be allowed.
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