Did you stop your meds pre-op?

mandi78 · September 19, 2007

I take several medications (as I'm sure many of you do) and I've always read that you are supposed to stop taking metformin (aka glucophage) before any surgery. Well, I just emailed my surgeon's office and they told me the ONLY meds you have to stop before the surgery is blood thinners, if you are on any. But, she is just the office manager so how does she know. I'm just wondering if any of you were told to stop taking your meds prior to surgery. I don't meet with my surgeon until the day before my surgery so I can't ask him until it will be too late.

This is what Medline Plus says about it. "If you are having surgery, including dental surgery, any x-ray procedure in which dye is injected, or any major medical procedure, tell the doctor that you are taking metformin. You may need to stop taking metformin before the procedure and wait 48 hours to restart treatment. Your doctor will tell you exactly when you should stop taking metformin and when you should start taking it again"

I know taking it while having surgery can increase the risk of lactic acidosis. Any thoughts?

lovekatz1975 · September 19, 2007

My endocrinologist told me to stop taking the metformin the day before surgery, but the surgeon's office told me to stop taking it 5 days before surgery. I stopped taking it yesterday (12 days before surgery) because I've been feeling very shaky. I also have to stop taking all Vitamins - normally I take a multi, a Vitamin C and a Vitamin E.

mandi78 · September 19, 2007

Why do you have to stop Vitamins? I take a lot of vitamins...maybe I should stop but I thought it would be good to get all my vitamins and minerals up since I wont be getting many nutrients after surgery. I'm going to stop taking the Met early next week I think. Thanks.

lovekatz1975 · September 19, 2007

The surgeon told me Vitamin E thins out your blood. And vitamin B does something too, but I can't remember what it was exactly. They said to stop taking my Vitamins 5 days before surgery. I'm taking juice plus vitamins that the surgeon's office gave me when I met the nutritionist. Those I can take up to the day of surgery. Plus the 5 slim fast shakes that I was told to drink per day has all the vitamins and nutrients in it that I need.