Patient Education · Forest Hills, Queens
How to Prepare for an Upper Endoscopy (and Why GLP-1 Meds Change the Prep)
Preparing for an upper endoscopy is straightforward. Stop eating and drinking at 10 pm the night before, and fast for at least 8 hours before the procedure, though 10 to 12 hours is preferred. There is one important exception: if you have uncontrolled diabetes, take narcotic pain medication for any reason, or take a GLP-1 medication such as Ozempic or Mounjaro, you need a longer fast of 12 hours or more, because these slow how quickly your stomach empties.
(718) 261-0900Medically reviewed by Dr. Yuriy Israel, MD, Gastroenterology | 10+ Years Experience | Last Updated: August 2026
Compared with a colonoscopy, the prep for an upper endoscopy is easy, since there is no bowel cleanse involved. It is mostly a fast. Here is exactly how to do it, and why the timing changes for certain medications.
The Basic Prep: When to Stop Eating and Drinking
The rule most patients follow is simple. Have no food or drink starting at 10 pm the night before your procedure. From there, you want at least 8 hours of fasting before the endoscopy, and Dr. Israel notes that 10 to 12 hours is preferred when your schedule allows it.
A few practical notes on the fast:
- The cutoff applies to both food and drink. After 10 pm there is nothing to drink after that either, not water, coffee, or gum, unless your care team has told you otherwise for a specific medication.
- Because you will be sedated, arrange for someone to drive you home before you arrive. Sedation rules out driving for the rest of the day.
- If you take daily medications, ask the office ahead of time which ones to take with a tiny sip of water on the morning of the procedure and which to hold.
The fast is the whole prep for most people. Get the timing right and there is little else to do.
Why an Empty Stomach Matters
The fast is not busywork. It is a safety step. During an upper endoscopy you are asleep under sedation while a thin, flexible scope passes through your esophagus and into your stomach and the first part of the small intestine. If there is food or liquid still sitting in the stomach, two things can go wrong. Your gastroenterologist may not get a clear view of the lining, which is the whole point of the exam, and stomach contents can pose a risk during sedation.
An empty stomach protects the quality of the exam and your safety at the same time. That is why a stomach with food still in it can mean rescheduling the procedure rather than pushing ahead.
Why GLP-1 Medications Change the Prep
This is the detail patients most often miss. GLP-1 medications, the class that includes Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, work in part by slowing gastric emptying. That is helpful for blood sugar and appetite, but it means food can linger in the stomach far longer than the usual 8 hours would predict.
Because of that, Dr. Israel calls for a longer fast, generally 12 hours or more, for anyone on a GLP-1 medication, taken for any reason. The standard overnight fast assumes a stomach that empties on a normal timeline. A GLP-1 changes that timeline, so the fast has to stretch to compensate.
Just as important, tell the office that you take one when you schedule. Our practice recommends stopping GLP-1 medications at least one week before the procedure, in addition to the longer fast, so that the stomach has time to return to its usual pace. Do not stop or adjust the medication on your own without guidance, and let the team know so they can give you instructions tailored to your dose and your reason for taking it.
Other Reasons You May Need a Longer Fast
GLP-1 drugs are the best-known example, but they are not the only reason the timing shifts. Dr. Israel points to two other situations that also call for a fast of 12 hours or more, for the same underlying reason: they slow how fast the stomach empties.
- Uncontrolled diabetes. Poorly controlled blood sugar can slow gastric emptying on its own, so the usual fast may not fully clear the stomach.
- Narcotic pain medication. Opioid medications, taken for any reason, slow the digestive tract. If you take them, plan on the longer fast.
If any of these apply to you, the fix is the same: a longer fast, and a heads-up to the office in advance so your instructions match your situation. When in doubt about whether something you take counts, ask when you schedule rather than guessing the night before.
Upper Endoscopy at Gastroenterology & Nutrition, P.C. in Forest Hills
Gastroenterology & Nutrition, P.C. performs upper endoscopy at our Forest Hills office, an AAAASF-certified facility, under propofol sedation with an anesthesiologist present. Dr. Yuriy Israel is dual board-certified in gastroenterology and internal medicine and has cared for patients here since 2016, working alongside Dr. Samuel Davidoff and Emanuel Yaakobov, NP. The procedure itself takes about five to seven minutes, and endoscopies are also available on Sundays.
"I recently underwent an endoscopy, and I was impressed by the professionalism and care provided by the medical team."
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The team sees patients in English, Russian, and Spanish, and the practice accepts the majority of commercial insurances, Medicare, and the various types of Medicaid. If you have an upper endoscopy coming up and want your prep confirmed for your medications, call 718-261-0900 or request an appointment.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please schedule a consultation with our team to discuss your individual needs.
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Gastroenterology & Nutrition, P.C. · Forest Hills, Queens
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