As the saying goes, fear often stems from the unknown. When discussing gastroscopy, many envision a tube inserted down the throat, triggering resistance. Yet some must undergo the procedure due to medical necessity. Before the exam, doctors instruct patients to drink a bottle of oral solution. Many wonder: What is this medicine? Could it harm the body? In fact, this solution primarily alleviates discomfort during gastroscopy.
What is the medication taken before gastroscopy?
Before the procedure, doctors provide patients with a bottle of dyclonine hydrochloride oral suspension. Patients are instructed to drink it, hold it in their throat for 20 seconds, and then swallow it slowly. Clinically, this medication primarily relaxes the throat and provides local anesthesia.As a local anesthetic, Dacronin Gel takes effect within 2 to 10 minutes. It anesthetizes the mucosa upon contact, maximizing its efficacy.
Additionally, Dacronin Gel helps eliminate bubbles in the stomach. Since gas bubbles on the gastric mucosa surface can interfere with the examination, doctors administer a demulsifier before the procedure.Beyond local anesthesia, Dacronin Gel also eliminates gastric bubbles, enabling physicians to examine gastric mucosa more thoroughly during endoscopy.
Note that Dacronin Gel should not be swallowed immediately. The correct method involves holding it in the throat (at the back of the throat) for a period before slowly swallowing.Local anesthesia takes effect after 10 minutes, reducing discomfort when the endoscope enters the throat during the procedure. The main ingredient in Dacronin Gel is dacronin, a local anesthetic with minimal harm to the body, typically metabolized and excreted within 24 hours.
Why must one wait two hours after gastroscopy before eating or drinking?
The effects of dyclonine gel gradually diminish after two hours. Consuming food or liquids immediately post-procedure risks aspiration—where food or liquid enters the trachea—potentially causing choking and life-threatening suffocation. Therefore, it is safest to wait until the effects have subsided before eating or drinking.
Important Reminder
Avoid eating or drinking for at least six hours before an endoscopy. Schedule the procedure in the morning. After your evening meal the night before, refrain from consuming any food to ensure your stomach is empty for the next day's examination. This prevents food reflux from entering the airway during the procedure, which could cause fatal aspiration. Additionally, if you experience persistent or worsening throat pain, seek medical attention promptly to determine the cause.