Gastroscopy Preparation Guide
💉
Gastroscopy Preparation
How to prepare for an upper endoscopy (OGD) in Australia — fasting, medications, sedation, and what to bring.
🇦🇺 AustraliaGESA guidelines
📋 Sources
Fasting and medication guidance compiled from the
Gastroenterological Society of Australia (GESA) patient information;
Healthdirect Australia; and standard pre-sedation fasting protocols (ANZCA).
Your endoscopy unit’s own instructions always take precedence.
What is a gastroscopy?
A gastroscopy (also called an upper endoscopy or OGD — oesophago-gastro-duodenoscopy) is a procedure where a thin, flexible camera is passed through your mouth to examine your oesophagus (food pipe), stomach, and the first part of your small bowel (duodenum).
It is used to investigate symptoms such as heartburn, reflux, difficulty swallowing, stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, or abnormal blood tests. It can also take tissue samples (biopsies) or treat bleeding. Unlike a colonoscopy, no bowel prep is required — only fasting.
⚡
What the procedure itself involves: you'll have intravenous sedation (not a general anaesthetic) so you'll feel drowsy, relaxed, and won't remember the procedure. A thin flexible camera is then passed through your mouth to examine your oesophagus, stomach and duodenum — the scope itself takes only 10–20 minutes, though allow 2–3 hours in total for check-in, prep and recovery. You'll need a responsible adult to drive you home, as you can't drive for 24 hours after sedation. Full fasting and medication details below.
⏰ Fasting — the most important step
🚫
No food for at least 6 hours
No food, no milk, no smoothies, no cloudy drinks
💧
Plain water permitted up to 2 hours before
Confirm exact time with the endoscopy unit
⚠️ The endoscopy unit will usually call you the day before to confirm your arrival time and remind you of the fasting cut-off. If your appointment is early morning, this means no food or milk from the night before.
💊 Medications
✅ Most medications — take as normal
Take your regular morning medications with a small sip of water at your usual time, unless specifically told otherwise.
⚠️ Blood thinners — discuss with your doctor
Warfarin, apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), dabigatran (Pradaxa), clopidogrel (Plavix), aspirin. These may need to be held before the procedure, especially if biopsies are planned. Do not stop without advice.
⚠️ Diabetes medications — check with your GP
If you take insulin or diabetes tablets (including metformin), discuss how to manage your dose on fasting days before your procedure.
📅 PPIs (omeprazole, pantoprazole, Nexium etc.)
If you take proton pump inhibitors for reflux, your gastroenterologist may ask you to stop them for a period before the scope to ensure the stomach lining is clearly visible. They will advise.
📅 On the day
💤
Sedation: You will receive intravenous sedation (not a general anaesthetic). You will feel drowsy and relaxed and will not remember the procedure. You may be awake but will be comfortable.
🚗
Driver required: You cannot drive for 24 hours after sedation. Arrange a responsible adult to take you home. Taxi, rideshare, or public transport alone is not permitted on the day.
🧳
Bring: Medicare card, referral letter, medication list, and comfortable loose clothing. Leave jewellery and valuables at home.
⏰
Allow 2–3 hours total. The scope itself takes 10–20 minutes, but check-in, preparation, and recovery take additional time.
🚫
No important decisions for 24 hours: Do not sign legal documents, make major decisions, drink alcohol, or operate machinery for 24 hours after sedation.