Your medications may have to be adjusted before your procedure. It's crucial to tell your surgical team everything you're taking, including prescription pharmaceuticals, vitamins, minerals, herbal remedies, and any other dietary supplements. You might be able to take your morning meds with a sip of water even though you aren't eating.
Medications to discuss with your doctor:
- Blood thinning medications
- Diabetes (blood sugar) medications
- Pain, anxiety, and depression medications
- Nicotine, alcohol, marijuana, or other cannabidiol (CBD) products
Anticlotting (Blood Thinning) Medications
| Medications group | List of medications | Specific Instructions |
| Antiplatelet medications | Help to prevent blood cells called platelets from clumping together to form a clot. Examples: aspirin (ASA), enteric-coated aspirin (Ecotrin®), clopidogrel (Plavix®) | Need to hold these medications 5 days prior to the procedure unless notified otherwise |
| Anticoagulant medications | Thin your blood to slow down the process of clotting. Examples: warfarin (Coumadin®), heparin, apixaban (Eliquis®), rivaroxaban (Xarelto®) | Continue all other anticoagulants (blood thinners) as prescribed until the day of the procedure. Consult your doctor to see if your anticoagulants (Eliquis, Xarelto, Pradaxa, and Savaysa) have been interrupted at any point in the last four weeks. |
Diabetes (blood sugar) Medications
| Medications group | List of medications | Specific Instructions |
| Long-acting insulin | Lantus, Levemir, etc. | If you normally take this medication in the evening, take half of your usual dose the evening prior to your procedure; if you normally take this medication in the morning, take one-third your usual dose the morning of your procedure. |
| Short acting insulin | Humalog, Novalog, etc. | If you are taking short acting insulin (Humalog, Novalog, etc.), please hold this the morning of your procedure. |
Pain, anxiety, depression, or sleep Medications
These can affect your pain control plan and side effects from opioid use. Click here for more information.
Nicotine, alcohol, marijuana or cannabidiol (CBD) products (used for medicinal or recreational use)
Use of any of these products may affect your heart rate, blood pressure, and pain control during and after your procedure.
Allergy instructions:
If you have a shellfish, iodine, or contrast dye allergy, please take one dose of oral methylprednisolone 32 mg 12 hours prior to the procedure. Prescription was sent to your pharmacy.
Drug allergy sufferers may experience symptoms whether they are using a liquid, tablet, or injectable form of medication. It's time to take charge and visit an allergist if you are confused about your symptoms and which drugs are safe for you to take.
Credits: Union Health.
Reference: “Drug Allergies | Reactions, Symptoms and Treatment | ACAAI Public Website.” ACAAI Public Website, 13 Apr. 2022, acaai.org/allergies/allergic-conditions/drug-allergies.