What medications are held before surgery?

The specific medications that are held before surgery vary depending on the type of surgery being performed and the patient's medical history. However, some common medications that are typically held before surgery include:

- Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and celecoxib: These medications can thin the blood and increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.

- Warfarin and other anticoagulants: These medications are also used to prevent blood clots, but they can also increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.

- Antiplatelet agents, such as clopidogrel (Plavix) and prasugrel (Effient): These medications are used to prevent blood clots in people who have had a heart attack or stroke and those considered high risk for developing blood clots.

- Insulin and other diabetic medications: People with diabetes will likely need to modify their insulin doses during and after surgery.

- Herbal supplements: It is usually advised to abstain from most herbal supplements before surgery because these often interfere with anesthetic agents or other meds and increase surgery risks. Herbal medication use and dosage changes should always be discussed with your doctor as many may cause harm in certain situations before elective and emergency surgeries.