Endoscopy Procedure Instructions

• As mentioned above, to ensure your comfort, IV sedation will be given to you during your endoscopy. You must secure a responsible companion, family member or friend,18 years of age or older, to escort you to your procedure, remain on site during the procedure, and to drive you home or to accompany you home via transit services. 

• If you do not have an escort with you upon arrival for your endoscopy, your procedure will be cancelled. It is very important that you understand that because of the medications given during the exam, you will not be able to drive until the day following your procedure. 

• Blood thinning medications, anticoagulants or other types of medications that impair blood clotting may need to be temporarily stopped in the week prior to your procedure. However, an individualized decision will be made by you and your prescribing physician. 

• Below is a list of commonly prescribed medications in this class. If you take these medications, please first seek guidance from your doctor or the anticoagulant clinic nurse about whether they should or should not be temporarily stopped in preparation for your exam (four days prior to the exam for Coumadin and seven days prior for the other medications); and, if not, what alternate arrangements or recommendations can be made in advance of the procedure. 

Brand Name              Generic Name 
Warfarin                      Coumadin 

Aspirin                         Aspirin 

Plavix                          Clopidogrel 

Pradaxa                      Dabigatran 

Effient                         Prasugrel 

Xarelto                        Rivaroxaban 

Persantine                  Dipyridamole 

Ticlid                           Ticlopidine 

Brilinta                        Ticagrelor 

• Stop taking all non-steroid anti-inflammatory medications, including ibuprofen (e.g., Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Naproxyn) and other arthritis drugs four days before your procedure. During this interval, you may take acetaminophen (e.g.,Tylenol)for arthritis or other minor pain, as needed. 

• Do not stop taking any medications for high blood pressure, heart rhythm disturbance or seizures/convulsions. These medications should be taken with a small amount of water before 7 a.m. on the morning of the procedure. 

• If you have diabetes and use insulin, take 1/3 of your usual long-acting insulin dose the morning of the procedure, but do not take any regular insulin. Please perform a finger-stick test the morning of the procedure, bring the results with you to the procedure, and inform your doctor and/or medical personnel of your condition and the results of your morning finger-stick test. Please do not take any oral anti-diabetic medication on the morning of the procedure. 

• Do not take any other medications on the morning of the procedure 

Endoscopy Preparation Instructions

AFTERNOON ENDOSCOPY EXAM 

• If you are scheduled for an afternoon exam, do not have solid food after midnight on the night prior to your exam. You may take as many liquids prior to 9 a.m. on the morning of your exam. However, do not take anything by mouth, including liquids – clear or other – after 9 a.m. on the morning prior to your procedure. Again, do not eat or drink anything from 9 a.m. until after your afternoon endoscopy is completed.