1941 Bishop Lane, Suite 200
Louisville, KY 40218
Hours:
Monday – Friday
8:00AM – 4:30PM
EGD Prep Instructions
**Unless otherwise instructed by your physician
If you are having both an upper endoscopy and a colonoscopy, follow the instructions on the prep sheet for the colonoscopy.
IMPORTANT MEDICATION INFORMATION
The following medications should be held as instructed prior to procedure:
Phentermine: Adipex-P, Qsymia, and Lomaira (Daily) – These medications will need to be stopped seven (7) days prior to your procedure.
GLP-1 Medications
All GLP-1 medications, including those listed below, will need to be stopped seven (7) days prior to your procedure if you are on a weekly dose or the day of your procedure if you are on a daily dose.
- Dulaglutide: Trulicity (Weekly)
- Exenatide: Bydureon (Weekly) and Byetta (Daily)
- Liraglutide: Victoza (Weekly) and Saxenda (Daily)
- Lixisenatide: Adlyxin (Daily) and Soliqua (Daily)
- Semaglutide: Ozempic (Weekly), Wegovy (Weekly) and Rybelsus (Daily)
- Tirzepatide: Mounjaro (Weekly) and Zepbound (Weekly)
General Prep Important Instructions
Bring an Adult Driver
Bring an adult driver. Your driver must be 18 years of age or over and they must stay in the Endoscopy Center. You will be given a sedative for your test, and you are not to drive until the next day. Therefore, one person must stay and drive you home. Your procedure will be rescheduled if your driver cannot stay in the Center.
Rescheduling
If you need to reschedule your procedure, please call your physician’s office at least 3-4 days in advance so that we may schedule another patient in your appointment time.
Notify Us in Advance
- If you are taking a blood thinner prescribed by a physician (such as Coumadin, Plavix, Effient, Eliquis or Ticlid). Your gastroenterologist will need to determine if these medication dosages require adjustment prior to the procedure. Failure to properly adjust these medications may result in cancellation of your procedure. You may continue to take Aspirin as usual.
- If you are having chest pain, undergoing cardiac testing, or have pending cardiac tests. (IMPORTANT: Please notify us before you begin to prep for your procedure.)
- If you have had any recent hospitalizations.
- If you have ever had excessive bleeding after an operation or problems with anesthesia.
- If there is a possibility you are pregnant.
DO NOT
- DO NOT take iron, diet pills (Phentermine, Adipex or Qsymia), GLP weekly injections, or herbal medications for seven (7) days prior to having your procedure. You may take vitamins.
- DO NOT drink alcohol for 24 hours before or after your procedure.
- DO NOT use items such as gum, hard candy, breath mints, smokeless tobacco, or illicit drugs such as marijuana on the day of your procedure.
- DO NOT drink liquids that are not clear such as milk or creamer.
- DO NOT drink liquids that are red or purple in color.
- DO NOT smoke tobacco, marijuana, vape, or chew tobacco on the day of your procedure.
- DO NOT eat solid food on the day of your procedure.
Other Important Details
- If you have dentures, you may be required to remove them for the procedure.
- Leave your valuables at home. If you have body piercings, you will be asked to remove them prior to the procedure for your safety.
- If you are a diabetic, do not take your diabetic medication the day of your procedure. Bring your medication with you so you can take it after your procedure.
- If you have asthma, please bring your inhaler with you.
- Take your usual prescribed medications with no more than two (2) tablespoons / one (1) ounce of water up to three (3) hours prior to your appointment time.
7 Days Before Procedure
Stop taking iron, aspirin, aspirin products, or Pepto Bismol.
If you are on Coumadin, Plavix, Pradaxa or any other blood thinner, ask your physician for additional instructions.
Please note that Tylenol (acetaminophen) does not interfere with the procedure. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions about your medication, especially if you have been told not to stop taking these drugs suddenly without medical advice.
1 Day Before Procedure
You may have your usual food until 10:00 pm. After 10:00 pm you may have clear liquids only until 3 hours before your scheduled arrival time.
Day of Procedure
You may take tour prescribed medications (except those previously listed) with water up to 3 hours before your scheduled arrival time.
Have someone to stay with you the entire time of your procedure and to drive you home the day of the procedure. Due to the sedation, you will not be allowed to drive yourself.
Clear Liquids include: water, coffee, tea, clear broth or bouillon, Gatorade, PowerAde, carbonated and non-carbonated soft drinks, Kool-aid or other flavored drinks, clear fruit juices such as apple or white grape juice, Jello or popsicles.
NO RED OR PURPLE COLORS- NO MILK PRODUCTS- NO ALCOHOL
If You Have Diabetes, Please Read
Diabetic Prep Information
Medications
- If you take oral medications for your diabetes, do NOT take your diabetes pills on the day prior to your procedure (prep day) or on the day of your procedure (until your procedure is complete and you resume a normal diet).
- If you take non-insulin injectable medications (Byetta, Bydureon, Victoza, Trulicity, Tanzeum, Symlin), do not take the medication if your injection day is the day prior to your procedure (prep day). You can resume it after the procedure is complete.
- If you take insulin, reduce your dose by 50% (half) of your normal dose on the day prior to your procedure and the day of your procedure. You can resume your normal dose after the procedure when you resume normal diet.
- If you use an insulin pump, contact your diabetes doctor for instruction. Generally, most patients will need to reduce their basal rate to 80% of the normal rate.
Diet
- You should aim for 45-60 grams of carbs with each meal. Although you may ordinarily avoid sugars, they are ok to take when you are prepping for your colonoscopy as these will be the main source of calories when you are on a clear liquid diet.
- For snacks, try to include other fluids that contain electrolytes such as broth.
- Examples of clear liquids with carb amounts are listed below. Note, if you experience low blood sugar (<60) during the 2 hours before your procedure, you can take 3 teaspoons of soda or clear juice to raise your sugar. Do NOT take solid foods or non-clear liquids, as your procedure will be cancelled.
| FLUID | AMOUNT | CARBS |
|---|---|---|
| Juice | 1/2 cup | 15 g |
| Jello | 1/2 cup | 15 g |
| Soda | 1 can | 40 g |
| Popsicle | 1 double stick | 15 g |
| Gatorade/Powerade | 1/2 cup | 15 g |
| Broth (veg/chicken/beef) | any | 0 g |
| Clear Protein Drinks | any | 0 g |
Please call us at 901-747-3630 if you have any questions or if you are having difficulty with the preparation. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
