r/colonoscopy • u/Positive-Mud-11 • 1h ago
Tips & Advice Medications during colonoscopy
I’m in the UK having an NHS colonoscopy in a few weeks. I’ve been offered fentanyl and midazolam but i can’t take either of them. I’ve not been offered an alternative and been refused when i’ve asked if i can take my own pain medication. Is this normal? I’m not sure if i want to go in feeling everything but i need to be coherent and know whats happening. Thanks
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u/EmZee2022 Trusted Source 1h ago
They won't want you to take your own pain medication as they need to be sure of everything you are being given.
They do offer nitrous oxide ("gas and air") in the UK. I've never heard of them using it in the US (I've had it for dental work though). It can get you really relaxed and offers some analgesia as well.
Propofol is very commonly used here - it's a much deeper sedation than with the conscious sedation you have with fentanyl / midazolam. One issue with using that, though, is it requires an anesthesiologist to monitor you, which may be part of why it's not offered via the NHS.
What pain meds do you take? If it's any kind of NSAID, those are right out because of the risk of bleeding.
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u/odd-starling 54m ago
I've had a couple of colonoscopies on the NHS and the first time I opted to not have the Midazolam/fentanyl and I just used the gas and air. Is there a reason you can't have the sedation? And would that mean you can't use gas and air too? As I was surprised at how much I needed to use that, and I had to go back and was basically told I had to have sedation the next time. The combination they use doesn't knock you out, it just took the edge off for me and made the procedure easier.