Your endoscopy preparation checklist
Short patient information to print or keep.
Check the booking and preparation
I undertake endoscopy at Endoscopy Auckland and GLMS. Check the location and arrival time. Your service will send the exact food, fluid, medicine and preparation instructions. General guidance is below; contact the team if instructions are missing or preparation is difficult.
Check every medicine decision
Give the team your full medicine list, including warfarin (Marevan), apixaban (Eliquis), rivaroxaban (Xarelto), clopidogrel (Plavix), diabetes tablets, insulin and GLP-1 medicines such as Ozempic, Wegovy or Mounjaro. Instructions should state whether each medicine is withheld, its last dose and when to restart if withheld. Confirm the plan before changing treatment. GLP-1 instructions differ between services, including whether to withhold a dose and whether 24 hours of clear fluids is needed.
Food, fluids and colonoscopy preparation
Gastroscopy usually needs a period without solid food, commonly at least six hours. Stop clear fluids at the time in your booking instructions. Colonoscopy usually starts with a low-residue diet, followed by clear fluids and the prescribed bowel-cleansing drink, often in split doses. Standard Glycoprep commonly uses about 3 to 4 litres; other products differ. Follow the exact mixing and timing instructions sent to you. See the bowel preparation guide on this site.
Plan transport and support
If sedation is planned, arrange an adult to collect you and any support requested at home. Do not drive yourself home. Follow your discharge restrictions and the plan for restarting withheld medicines. Most people can return to normal duties the next day, subject to their individual instructions.
Call if unwell or unsure
Contact the team for repeated vomiting, inability to keep fluids down, marked dizziness or medicine and glucose concerns. Seek urgent assessment for severe pain, fainting, confusion or unusual breathing. Call 111 for collapse, breathing difficulty or if you cannot travel safely.
If you become unwell during preparation
Contact our endoscopy team promptly for repeated vomiting, inability to keep fluids down, marked dizziness or concerns about glucose or medicine doses. If the service is closed, seek advice from an urgent medical service rather than guessing what to take.
Seek urgent assessment for severe abdominal pain, fainting, heavy bleeding, confusion or unusual deep or rapid breathing.
Call 111 if you collapse, have breathing difficulty or are too unwell to travel safely.
General information. Follow your own care instructions.