What medications should I stop taking prior to surgery?
You should continue necessary medications to retain a steady state blood level of
your usual medications. These include: blood pressure, cardiac (heart), epilepsy
(seizure), hormone replacement, ulcer, antibiotics, narcotics (pain), and
benzodiazepines (anxiety) medicines.
These are medicines to stop prior to surgery:
  • Oral diabetes medication is not taken the day of surgery.
  • Diet drugs should be discontinued 2 weeks prior to surgery as they may result
    in blood pressure issues.
  • Aspirin should be discontinued 10 days prior to surgery and all other anti-
    inflammatory medications (motrin, ibuprofen, aleve, advil, naprosyn etc.)
    should be stopped 3 days prior to surgery to reduce bleeding.
  • All herbal supplements (not vitamins) should be stopped 1 week prior to
    surgery.
  • Rheumatoid medications are commonly immunosuppressive agents and most
    should be stopped at least one week prior to an orthopedic procedure,
    especially a joint replacement surgery to decrease the risk of deep infection.  
    This should be clarified by your primary care physician or rheumatologist.
Juan C. Frisancho, M.D.
Orthopedic Surgery
Joint Replacement