Medications, Drugs, Herbals

- NOT TO TAKE BEFORE SURGERY -

There are medications and herbals that should not be taken before surgery. The reasons vary from potential for bleeding to interference with anesthetic effects. Below is a partial list with minimal times to be off the drug before and after surgery. Of course, more involved operations may require you be off the drug longer. The effects these compounds may cause are subject to probability, dosage and interaction with other drugs. Garlic as a supplement is not the same as the garlic you get with a pasta dinner (or my friends I would have bled to death a long time ago). Take these suggestions with a grain of salt and ask your own surgeon before surgery.

Again, this is a partial list and is for your information only. Ask your own surgeon before you take any medication/ herbal prior to your surgery and don't stop taking a medication without your doctor knowing first. This is especially important when the blood thinning drugs are being taken to protect your heart and brain from heart attacks and strokes.

Drug/Supplement	Effect	Timing
Aspirin	Decrease platelet function - bleeding	7-10 days prior and 1 week after
Ibuprofen , Motrin, Advil	Decrease platelet function - bleeding	5 days prior and 1 week after
Naproxen , Aleve	Decrease platelet function - bleeding	5 days prior and 1 week after
Heparin , Lovenox	Decreases clotting - bleeding	debatable - check bleeding time when in doubt; Lovenox wears off more quickly
Clopidogrel , Plavix	Decreases platelet function - bleeding	debatable - discuss with your surgeon
Vitamin E, Marine Fatty Acids, Omega-3 Fish Oil Supplements	increase risk of bleeding	2 weeks prior and 1 week after
Chondroitin	increases risk of bleeding	2 weeks prior and 1 week after
Echinacea	reduces immunosuppressant effectiveness - may cause allergic reactions	2 weeks prior and 1 week after
Ephedra (Ma Huang)	affects cardiovascular function, may cause cardiomyopathy or thrombotic stroke	2 weeks prior and 1 week after
Garlic	increases risk of bleeding	2 weeks prior and 1 week after
Glucosamine	mimic human insulin and may artificially cause hypoglycemia during surgery	2 weeks prior and 1 week after
Ginkgo	increases risk of bleeding	2 weeks prior and 1 week after
Ginseng	may cause hypoglycemia and increases risk of bleeding	2 weeks prior and 1 week after
Kava	compounds anesthetic effect	2 weeks prior and 1 week after
St. John's Wort	induces cytochrome enzymes, inhibiting effects of many surgical drugs	2 weeks prior and 1 week after
Valerian	compounds anesthetic effect, may build tolerance to anesthesia	2 weeks prior and 1 week after

MAIN

View Site in Mobile | Classic