BEFORE SURGERY
Medications before surgery
Some medicines need to be stopped or adjusted before an operation. The information below explains what to do with commonly used medicines and when you should contact us for individual advice.
Your medications
Your medication instructions depend on what you take, why you take it and the procedure you are having. Please follow any specific instructions provided by your surgeon, hospital or anaesthetist.
Blood-thinning medicines can increase the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. However, stopping them may also increase the risk of blood clots, stroke or other complications.
If you take a blood thinner, such as warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran, aspirin or clopidogrel, you should receive specific instructions about whether and when it should be stopped.
Do not stop a prescribed blood thinner unless you have been advised to do so by your treating team.
Diabetes medicines often need to be adjusted when you are fasting for a procedure. This includes insulin, tablets and injectable diabetes medicines.
The instructions depend on the medicine you take, your usual diabetes control and the timing of your procedure.
Please follow the diabetes medication instructions provided by your hospital or treating team. If you have not received instructions, contact them before your procedure.
Some medicines used for weight loss can affect how quickly the stomach empties, which may be relevant to fasting and anaesthesia.
This includes medicines that are also used to treat diabetes, such as GLP-1 medicines.
Please tell us if you are taking a prescription medicine for weight loss and follow any specific instructions provided by your hospital or anaesthetist.
Do not change or stop these medicines unless you have been advised to do so.
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Taking a GLP-1 medication?
If you take one of these medicines for diabetes or weight management, please read the ANZCA preparation instructions before your procedure.
Most regular heart and blood pressure medicines are continued around the time of surgery, but some may need to be withheld or adjusted.
Please continue your medicines unless you have been given different instructions by your hospital, surgeon, anaesthetist or treating doctor.
If you are unsure about a particular medicine, check before the day of your procedure.
Many regular medicines can be continued as usual, but there are exceptions.
Please make sure your pre-operative questionnaire contains an up-to-date list of everything you take, including the name, dose and how often you take it.
If you have been given specific medication instructions by your hospital, surgeon or anaesthetist, follow those instructions.
Please tell us about any vitamins, supplements, herbal medicines or other non-prescription products you take.
Some of these products can affect bleeding, blood pressure, sedation or interact with medicines used during an anaesthetic.
You may be advised to stop some products before surgery. If you are unsure whether something you take is relevant, include it on your medication list.