By Barbara A Clements

UWMedicineNews

Usually it's not the colonoscopy itself that has patients dreading their once-a-decade visit to their gastroenterologist. It's the prep.

That may have just changed due to a new pill regimen that offers an alternative to chugging a gallon of horrible-tasting liquid over 24 hours.

"Everyone who mentions colonoscopies mentions their war stories about completing the bowel prep," says UW Medicine gastroenterologist Dr. Jennifer Ray.

Now, more patients are asking for a pill-based regimen where they take 12 pills the day before the procedure, with 48 ounces of water. Another 12 pills are taken hours before the colonoscopy, with another 48 ounces of water.

Yes, that's a lot of liquid, Ray noted, but at least it doesn't taste bad, and gives patients the same results. She hopes the new regime will draw more people in for their long-delayed colonoscopy checkups.