This information describes how to take polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX) to empty your colon before your surgery or procedure. This is also called bowel preparation or bowel prep.
Your care team will tell you if you need to do MiraLAX bowel prep before your surgery or procedure.
Buy your supplies
Your nurse will check off the supplies you will need. You can buy these supplies at your local pharmacy without a prescription.
- 1 (238-gram) bottle of polyethylene glycol (MiraLAX).
- 1 (64-ounce) bottle of a clear liquid.
You may also want to buy the following:
- Clear liquids to drink during the day before your surgery or procedure.
- A pitcher to mix the MiraLAX and 64 ounces of clear liquid.
The day before your surgery or procedure
Follow a clear liquid diet
You’ll need to follow a clear liquid diet the day before your surgery or procedure. A clear liquid diet includes only liquids you can see through. You can find examples in the “Clear liquid diet” table.
Ask your healthcare provider if you should avoid red, orange, or purple liquids. This will depend on your surgery or procedure.
While you’re following a clear liquid diet:
- Do not eat any solid foods.
- Try to drink at least 1 (8-ounce) cup of clear liquid every hour you’re awake.
- Drink different types of clear liquids. Do not just drink water, coffee, and tea.
- Do not drink any liquids you cannot see through, such as milk or smoothies.
- Do not drink sugar-free liquids unless you have diabetes and your care team tells you to.
How to follow a clear liquid diet if you have diabetes
Ask the healthcare provider who manages your diabetes:
- What to do while you’re following a clear liquid diet.
- If you need to change your dose of insulin or other diabetes medicine, if you take them.
- If you should drink sugar-free clear liquids.
Check your blood sugar level often while you’re following a clear liquid diet. If you have questions, talk with your healthcare provider.
| Clear liquid diet | ||
|---|---|---|
| OK to have | Do not have | |
| Soups |
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| Sweets |
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| Drinks |
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Get your MiraLAX bowel prep ready
The morning of the day before your surgery or procedure: Mix all 238 grams of MiraLAX with 64 ounces of clear liquid until the MiraLAX powder dissolves. Once the powder dissolves, you can put the mixture in the refrigerator, if you want to.
Take your MiraLAX bowel prep
At on the day before your surgery or procedure, start drinking the MiraLAX mixture. It will cause frequent bowel movements, so make sure you’re near a bathroom.
- Drink 1 (8-ounce) cup of the mixture every 15 minutes until it’s gone.
- When you finish the MiraLAX mixture, drink 4 to 6 cups of clear liquids.
- Apply zinc oxide ointment or Desitin® to the skin around your anus after every bowel movement. This helps prevent irritation.
Eating and drinking after your MiraLAX bowel preparation
Instructions for eating
Stop eating at midnight (12 a.m.) the night before your procedure. This includes hard candy and gum.
If your healthcare provider told you to stop eating earlier than midnight, follow their instructions. Some people need to fast (not eat) for longer before their procedure.
Instructions for drinking
Between midnight (12 a.m.) and 2 hours before your arrival time, only drink the liquids on the list below. Do not eat or drink anything else. Stop drinking 2 hours before your arrival time.
- Water.
- Clear apple juice, clear grape juice, or clear cranberry juice.
- Gatorade or Powerade.
-
Black coffee or plain tea. It’s OK to add sugar. Do not add anything else.
- Do not add any amount of any type of milk or creamer. This includes plant-based milks and creamers.
- Do not add honey.
- Do not add flavored syrup.
If you have diabetes, pay attention to the amount of sugar in these drinks. It will be easier to control your blood sugar levels if you include sugar-free, low-sugar, or no added sugar versions of these drinks.
It’s helpful to stay hydrated before procedures, so drink if you are thirsty. Do not drink more than you need. You will get intravenous (IV) fluids during your procedure.
Stop drinking 2 hours before your arrival time. This includes water.
Other instructions
Take only the medicines your healthcare provider told you to take, with a few sips of water.
Follow any other instructions your healthcare provider gave you about your surgery or procedure.