For a colonoscopy, most patients get sedation through an IV, and the most common levels are moderate sedation or deep sedation. Moderate sedation can make you drowsy and you may not remember the procedure. Deep sedation usually lets you sleep through it and have little or no memory of it. Some patients have no sedation, and general anesthesia is not commonly used for colonoscopies.

The exact plan depends on your health, the procedure, and what your team thinks is safest. Light or moderate sedation is usually given by a nurse under the gastroenterologist’s direction, while deep sedation or general anesthesia should involve an anesthesiologist.

Verify the exact plan with your surgical or anesthesia team in case they want something different for you.