Medications

It is important to cease some medication prior to your surgery. Unless instructed otherwise, all medication should be continued with a sip of water on the day of your procedure. If a patient misses their medications on the day of surgery, the procedure sometimes has to be cancelled. For example, blood pressure medications are usually continued at normal doses and times to ensure that the blood pressure remains as normal as possible during the procedure. If these medications are missed, the blood pressure may become very high, increasing the risk of stroke and of bleeding.

Below are generic instructions for particular medications:
(Note that this is general advice, and you should discuss with your doctor in plenty of time before the procedure so you know the specific tailored advice for your particular medications and conditions)

Anticoagulants / Bloods Thinners (e.g. Aspirin, Clopidogrel (Plavix), Warfarin, Rivaroxaban (Xarelto), Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixaban (Eliquis))

  • Your proceduralist or surgery will inform you what to cease and what to continue.
  • Generally aspirin is continued
  • Generally the others are ceased for several days before your procedure. However, it is vital you do NOT cease any anticoagulant without instruction from a doctor .
  • Sometimes short acting injections of anticoagulants (Clexane or Heparin) may be required in the place of oral anticoagulants.

Insulin

  • Long acting insulin (Lantus) to be continued the night before procedures.
  • Short acting insulis (Actrapid, Humalog, Novorapid) are generally continued at 1/2 (50%) of usual dose while fasting.
  • Please lease with your anaesthetist if you have any concerns or questions.

Diabetes Tablets

  • Generally these are not taken on the day of your procedure.
  • Dapaglifozin (Forxiga, Xigduo), Empagiflozin (Jardiance, Jardiamet) and Canagliflozin (Invokana) must be ceased 2 days prior to your procedure.

Weight Loss or Diabetes Injections (eg Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic)

  • Generally these are continued on the day of your procedure.
  • You will need to have an extended fasting time of 24 hours of a liquid diet prior to your procedure.

Long Term Pain Relief and Sleeping Tablets

  • May be continued as usual unless instructed otherwise.