What medications should I stop before surgery?

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The honest answer is that your surgical team's list is the only list that matters, and the NHS says you will be given clear information on whether you should stop taking your usual medicines before going into hospital, which is why the pre-operative assessment exists. The drugs that usually make the stop-or-adjust list: anticoagulants and antiplatelets, with NHS hospital guidance noting some blood-thinning medications must be stopped before an operation because they can make you bleed a lot, though some, like aspirin for a stent, may be deliberately continued, so never decide this one yourself; diabetes medicines, which change because you will be fasting; GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drugs, which slow stomach emptying and matter for anesthesia; some antidepressants and MAOIs, flagged to the anesthetist; and herbal supplements, which the NHS counts as things to declare, since several affect bleeding and anesthesia. The drugs usually continued: blood pressure medicines, often with a small sip of water, and inhalers. The safe behaviors: bring the full list, medicines, vitamins, herbal supplements, to the pre-op assessment, per the NHS; follow the written instructions exactly; and never improvise stops or continuations, because both directions carry real risk.

What medications should I stop before surgery?

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