Medications
It is very important your medications are correctly reported in
your pre-anaesthetic forms.
If you are required to take your regular medications when
fasting, you may take them with a small sip of water.
Blood thinners
Please contact your surgeon regarding blood-thinning medications such as Warfarin, Pradaxa, Eliquis, Xarelto, Plavix, Iscover, aspirin, fish oil or any other similar drugs. Some of these medications need to be stopped at least 5 days prior to your surgery.
Anti-inflammatories
Please note that anti-inflammatories also affect blood clotting and you may need to stop them 12 hours to 24 hours prior to surgery. Again, please contact your surgeon.
Pain medications
These medications should be stopped on the day of surgery as they may interact with the anaesthetic drugs and other pain-killers. It is OK to continue to take paracetamol or panadol osteo.
Sedatives and antidepressants
These medications should also be stopped on the day of surgery. Please don’t worry about not taking them as their effects are long lasting and missing a few doses will not make any difference.
Diabetic medication
Please do not take your diabetic medications on the day of surgery. You will often be asked to come to the hospital a little earlier so that the nurses can measure your blood sugar level. The management of your diabetes can then be guided by your blood sugar level.
In general, it is safer if your blood sugar level is a little high rather than low. A higher blood sugar level for one day will not make any difference to the long-term control of your diabetes.
In order to avoid serious blood sugar problems, you may need to stop these medications for 3 days prior to surgery. (Sitagliptin (Januvia), vildagliptin (Galvus) or Janumet.
Blood Pressure Medications
In general, you should take these medications on the day of surgery. They keep your high blood pressure under control and will continue to stabilize your blood pressure during the anaesthetic.
Complementary Medications
Please stop these medications before your anaesthetic. It is often very difficult to know what or how much is in these medications. Vitamins are OK.
