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Eating and fasting

Eating and fasting before your gastroscopy

A gastroscopy needs an empty stomach, not a bowel cleanout. Eat normally until your fasting window begins, then follow the timings below.

This page is for patients on weight-loss injectables

Semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy), tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and liraglutide slow stomach emptying, so food can still be present at the time of sedation. Everyone else only needs the standard fasting window and can skip this page.

When to follow this phase

The 24 hours before your admission time

Clear fluids leave the stomach quickly, so a clear-liquid day gives the sedation team a much safer view. Keep taking your other medicines as prescribed and never stop or delay an injection without speaking to the clinic first.

Clear liquids you can have

You should be able to see through anything you drink. Avoid red, purple or blue dyes unless the clinic says otherwise.

Hydration

  • Water and sparkling water
  • Clear broths and bouillon
  • Clear fruit juices without pulp
  • Clear sodas and sports drinks

Warm drinks

  • Plain black coffee without milk
  • Plain tea without milk
  • Clear fruit-flavoured drinks without pulp

Light extras

  • Plain jelly without fruit
  • Ice blocks without fruit or cream
  • Clear boiled lollies

Sweets

  • Honey, sugar, and clear syrup
  • Plain sugar-based drinks

What to avoid

Anything that is not clear can stay in the stomach and may mean your procedure is postponed.

  • Milk, cream, and non-dairy creamers
  • Orange juice, tomato juice, or any juice with pulp
  • Smoothies, protein shakes, and meal-replacement drinks
  • Soups with noodles, vegetables, or meat pieces
  • Anything red, purple, or blue dyed
  • Alcohol
  • Solid food of any kind

Your clear-liquid day, hour by hour

Choose the time of day you are admitted. Your admission time is on your hospital letter, and it is earlier than your procedure time.

Clear liquids only from 7:00am the day before your gastroscopy.

  1. 7:00amStart the clear-liquid day. Last chance for solid food is before this — do not eat after 7:00am.
  2. 7:00 – 9:00amBreakfast: a large glass of clear apple juice, plus black tea or coffee (no milk).
  3. 9:00 – 11:00amSip water steadily. Aim for a full glass every hour through the day.
  4. 11:00am – 1:00pmLunch: a mug of clear broth or bouillon, plus plain jelly (no fruit).
  5. 1:00 – 4:00pmWater, clear sports drink or clear lemonade. Ice blocks without fruit or cream are fine.
  6. 4:00 – 6:00pmDinner: a second mug of clear broth, plus clear juice without pulp or more jelly.
  7. 6:00 – 10:00pmKeep sipping water, clear cordial or tea without milk so you stay well hydrated.
  8. 10:00pmStop food-like clear liquids (broth, jelly, juice). Water only from here.
  9. MidnightNothing more to eat or drink apart from water. Water is allowed until 2 hours before your admission time.
  10. 2 hours before admissionNothing at all by mouth — no water, no lollies, no chewing gum.

Aim for at least 8 glasses of clear fluid across the day so you do not become dehydrated. If the clinic has given you different timings, follow theirs.

Confirm your plan with the clinic

The length of the clear-liquid window depends on which injection you take, your dose and when you last had it. Ring us on 08 6389 0631 at least 7 days before your gastroscopy so we can confirm the exact plan for you.