Managing Medications

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STOP the following medications seven (7) days before surgery:
Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil)
NSAIDS (Aleve, Relafen)
Gout medication (indomethacin, colchicine)
STOP any diet drugs, vitamins, or herbal supplements 2 weeks before surgery.
Consult your medical doctor or cardiologist if you are taking Aspirin, Plavix, or other platelet-inhibiting drugs.
Ask if it is safe to stop taking these medications before surgery. If it is inappropriate for you to stop taking them, continue to take them, but call and let the nurse at the surgery center know.
When the nurse calls with pre-op instructions, please notify the nurse of any supplements you may be taking.
ALERT the surgery center call nurse if you take MAO inhibitors (Nardil, Parnate).
These must be held for fourteen (14) days before surgery.
Heart, blood pressure, asthma, reflux, and anti-seizure medication are usually taken with a sip of water on the day of surgery, but please confirm this on the preoperative call.
If you use an inhaler for asthma or medication for migraines, bring them with you to the surgery center.
If you take anti-anxiety medication or allergy medication, you may take it on the morning of surgery with a sip of water. But, please confirm on the preoperative call.
If you take insulin and diabetic medications, contact your primary care physician or endocrinologist for dosing instructions.