Stopping Medication Before Anesthesia
If you’re considering a plastic surgery procedure that requires you to be anesthetized, you may have heard about the importance of stopping medication before anesthesia.
This isn’t true for every medication though. Some are riskier than others.
So if the notion of having to quit your medication to have a procedure feels too daunting, you’ll want to read on to determine how (or if) you’ll be affected.
Medications You May Need to Briefly Pause
It’s crucial to be forthright with your surgical team about your current prescriptions because you MAY need to put a temporary halt on certain medications to ensure your safety.
The main culprits are medications that treat the following:
- Blood Pressure
Patients who take drugs for high blood pressure (such as beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers, direct renin inhibitors, or diuretics) are asked to stop these medications 24 hours pre-op to reduce the risk of blood pressure falling too low during the procedure.
On the other hand, patients taking beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, or other medications for heart failure are advised to take their medication as usual.
- Type 2 Diabetes
Among medications used to regulate blood sugar, GLP-1 agonists are of particular concern because of an increased risk of vomiting and aspiration during the procedure. Patients are typically asked to temporarily stop taking these based on how often they take them. For those taking them daily, the recommendation is to hold off the day before and the day of surgery.
SGLT-2 inhibitors are also of concern because they slow the time it takes for food to leave the stomach and can put patients at risk for a dangerous condition known as euglycemic ketoacidosis. The recommendation is to stop the medication 3-4 days before anesthesia and consult with the prescribing doctor.
Patients taking insulin for Type 1 diabetes are advised to continue taking it but need to discuss specific recommendations before anesthesia. Those taking insulin for Type 2 diabetes will likely need to adjust it – based on the doctor’s recommendation – in the 24 hours before anesthesia.
- Weight Loss
Those taking GLP-1 agonists for weight loss need to follow the same protocol as those taking it for diabetes (see above).
Another class of weight loss medication includes drugs that contain phentermine. Phentermine shouldn’t be combined with anesthesia and patients are advised to stop four days before anesthesia. Depending on whether phentermine is taken with another medication, there may be recommendations on how to wean off the medications safely.
4. Blood Clotting
To avoid the risk of excessive bleeding, your surgeon will recommend the cessation of all blood thinning medications. These even include OTC medications such as Advil/Ibuprofen.
Concerned About Stopping Medication Before Anesthesia?
We understand the fear of stopping medication before anesthesia. Fortunately, if you’re taking medication for depression, anxiety, sleep, birth control, or even ADHD (in most cases), you won’t be affected.
And even if you do have to stop a medication, most patients can start again soon after coming out of anesthesia.
So don’t let fear stop you from getting that plastic surgery procedure you’re dreaming of. Contact us today to set up a free consultation. We’ll discuss any reservations you may have and put your mind at ease.