Medications to Avoid Before and After Surgery

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The following list is divided into three groups and contains common medications, vitamins or herbal supplements that can cause problems prior to surgery. Most of these products cause either excessive bleeding or sedation. If you are taking any medications on this list, they should be discountinued for a minimum of 14 days prior to surgery and only Tylenol should be taken for pain.

Prescription Medication (RX)

IA.

  • Aggrenox (Dipyridamole/Asprin)
  • Brilinta (Ticagrelor)
  • Coumadin (Warfarin)
  • Effient (Prasugrel)
  • Eliquis (Apixaban)
  • Fragmin (Dalteparin)
  • Heparin (Heparin Sodium)
  • Innohep (Tinzapalin)
  • Lovenox (Enoxaparin)
  • Persantine (Dipyridamole)
  • Plavix (Clopidogrel)
  • Pletal (Cilostazole)
  • Pradaxa (Dabigatran)
  • Ticlid (Ticlopidine)
  • Xarelto (Rivaroxaban)

IB.

  • Celexa (Citalopram)
  • Lexapro (Escitalopram)
  • Luvox (Fluvoxamine)
  • Paxil (Paroxetine)
  • Prozac (Fluoxetine)
  • Zoloft (Sertraline)

IC.

  • Asacol (Mesalamine)
  • Damason (Asprin/Hydrocodone)
  • Darvon (Propoxyphene)
  • Fiorinal (Butalbital/Asprin/Caffine)
  • Percodan (Oxycodone/Asprin)
  • Toradol (Ketorolac)

II.

  • Ansaid (Flurbiprofen)
  • Anaprox (Naproxen)
  • Arthrotec (Diclofenac/Misoprostol)
  • Celebrex (Celecoxib)
  • Clinoril (Sulindac)
  • Disalcid (Salsalate)
  • Dolobid (Diflunisal)
  • Duexis (Famotidine/Ibuprofen)
  • Feldene (Piroxicam)
  • Indocin/Indocin SR (Indomethacin)
  • Meclofen (Meclofenamate)
  • Mobic (Meloxicam)
  • Nabumetone (Relafen)
  • Nalfon (Fenoprofen)
  • Orudis (Ketoprofen)
  • Ponstel (Mefenamic acid)
  • Tolectin (Tolmetin)
  • Trilisate (Choline magnesium trisalicylate)
  • Voltaren (Diclofenac)

Over the Counter

  • Advil
  • Alka Seltzer
  • Aleve (Naprosyn)
  • Anacin
  • Aspirin Products
  • Ascriptin
  • Bayer Asprin Products
  • Bufferin
  • Claritin
  • Coricidin
  • Doan’s
  • Dristan
  • Ecotrin
  • Excedrin
  • Four Way Cold Tablets
  • Genprin
  • Goody’s Pain Medications
  • Ibuprofen
  • Midol
  • Motrin
  • Nuprin
  • Nytol
  • Nyquil
  • Pamperin
  • Pepto-Bismol
  • Premysyn
  • Sine-Aid
  • Sine-off
  • Sominex
  • Vanquish
  • Zorprin

Vitamin-Herbal Supplements

  • Chamomile Tea
  • Doans Pills
  • Dong Quai
  • Echinacea
  • Ephedra
  • Evening Primrose
  • Feverfew
  • Fish Oils (Omega-3 Fatty Acids)
  • Garlic
  • Gingko Biloba
  • Ginseng
  • Glucosamine
  • Goldenseal
  • Kava
  • Licorice
  • Melatonin
  • Valerian
  • St. John’s Wort
  • Vitamin C (more than 2000mg)
  • Vitamin E (more than 400mg)

All medications that you are currently taking must be specifically cleared by Dr. Imola or Dr. Kowalczyk prior to surgery

Diet Pills

Patient having surgery must discontinue any diet pills for at least 2 weeks prior to surgery. This includes but is not limited to Phenetamine, Reduze, Ephedra (any type), and both prescription and over-the-counter diet pills. Please let Dr. Imola if you have any questions, the unknown risks of these substances is simply not worth it (however small the risk might be) when having an elective procedure.

Nicotine Products

Nicotine reduces the blood flow to the skin and may impair healing. Quitting smoking drastically improves the body’s response to surgery. In order to be scheduled for surgery, Dr. Imola requires cessation of all nicotine products below for six weeks before surgery and six weeks post surgery—– Cigarette, Cigars, Nicotine Gum, Patches, Marijuana.