BE Patient Prep

Tufts Medical Center Barium Enema Patient Prep

 Day Before the Exam:

• Breakfast - Coffee or tea with small amount of milk if preferred.
• Clear liquids - juice, any type (except orange), water, soda, beer, etc.
• No Milk.
• Clear jello (no fruit, cream or other additives).
• 10am - 4 Dulcolax tablets with at least one full glass of water, juice or soda.
• 2pm - at least two full glasses of water, juice or soda.
• 3pm - at least two full glasses of clear liquids.
• 4-5pm - one 10oz. bottle of Magnesium Citrate (cold).
• 6pm - Clear liquids and clear jello.
• 7pm - at least one full glass of water.

Important:  Drink at least two quarts of clear liquids during the day. 

Day of the Exam:

•  Breakfast - one glass of clear juice and one cup of tea or coffee (with a small amount of skimmed or non-fat dry milk if desired).

Immediately After Breakfast:

Use Dulcolax suppository as follows:

• Unwrap suppository.
• Lie on your left side with your right thigh raised.
• Insert suppository into the rectum, pointed end first, as high as you can.
• Close your thighs and retain suppository for at least 15 minutes or more.
• A bowel evacuation will occur usually in 15 minutes to one hour.

Nothing more to eat or drink until after your exam is completed.

After the Exam:

• Once the exam is completed, you may return to your normal diet.
• Barium can be constipating, so we recommend that you drink plenty of fluids.  With the approval of your physician, you may take a mild laxative.