Medical Tests
Information on medical tests, including how to prepare, what to expect, and what the results mean.

Esophagus Tests

How To Prepare

To prepare for an esophagus test:

• Do not take antacids (such as Tums or Rolaids) or acid reducers (such as Axid, Pepcid, Tagamet, or Zantac) for 24 hours before the test unless the test is being done to evaluate the effectiveness of these medicines.
• Stop taking other medicines—such as the proton pump inhibitors lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), esomeprazole (Nexium), or rabeprazole (Aciphex)—before testing. Your health professional will give you specific instructions.
• Do not drink alcohol or smoke for 24 hours before the test.
• Do not eat or drink for 8 to 12 hours before testing.
• Tell your health professional if you have any other problems, such as enlarged esophageal blood vessels (esophageal varices), heart failure, or other heart conditions.

Talk to your health professional about any concerns you have regarding the need for the test, its risks, how it will be done, or what the results may indicate. To help you understand the importance of this test, fill out the medical test information form (What is a PDF document?) .

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