This is a quick guide to medications you should or should not take before surgery. Any medication that you should take can be swallowed with a sip of water at the usual time (or before surgery if your normal time falls during your surgery).
If your medication is not on the following list, or if you are not sure about taking it, bring your medication so that our doctors or nurses can discuss it with you. If you have any other
questions about taking your medication before surgery, ask your surgeon or doctor.
You Should Take
For high blood pressure (some common names)
- Accupril or Prinivil (lisinopril)
- Catapres (clonidine)
- Cozaar (losartan)
- Inderal (propanolol)
- Norvasc (amlodipine)
- Procardia (nifedipine)
- Tenormin (atenolol)
- Vasotec (enalapril)
For your heart (some common names)
- Calan, Covera, Isoptin, or Verelan (verapamil)
- Cardizem (diltiazem)
- Cordarone (amiodorone)
- Imdur or Isordil Inderal (propanolol)
- Lanoxin (digoxin)
- Procanbid or Pronestyl (procainamide)
- Tenormin (atenolol)
For your lungs (some common names)
- Any inhalers
- Accolate (zafirlukast)
- Prednisone
- Singulair (montelukast)
- Theophylline
For your stomach (some common names)
- Aciphex (rabprazole)
- Nexium (esomeprazole)
- Pepcid (famotidine)
- Prilosec (omeprazole)
- Protonix (pantoprazole)
- Tagamet (cimetidine)
- Zantac (ranitidine)
You Should Not Take
For high blood pressure
- Diuretics (water pills)
- Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) (you can take if in the same pill as one of the medications above)
- Dyazide (hydrochlorothiazide/ triamterene)
- Lasix (furosemide)
For diabetes
- Do not take Glucophage for 12 hours before surgery.
- Diabenase (chlorpropamide)
- Glucotrol (glipizide)
- Micronase (glyburide)
- Rezulin (troglitazone)
- If you take insulin, talk to the doctor who takes care of your diabetes, or you can discuss it with us.
Antacids
- Do not take any chewable or liquid antacids such as Tums, Mylanta, or Rolaids.
Diuretics
- Do not take any diuretics, unless they are in combination with one of the meds you should take.
Herbal Medications
- Most herbal medications should be held for several days to a week before surgery. Some can increase your tendency to bleed, and others may have poorly understood interactions with anesthetics. The American Society of Anesthesiologists has produced a useful brochure discussing herbal medications, available on our download page or by clicking here.
These Medications Should be Discussed With Your Surgeon and Prescribing Doctor
Blood thinners
- Aspirin
- Coumadin (warfarin)
- Lovenox (enoxaparin)
- Plavix (clopidogrel)
- Trental (pentoxifylline)
For Diabetes
Take me to the Morris Anesthesia Pain Group website
