What You Need to Know
This list might not cover all medications or reasons for taking them. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to your primary care provider for clarification.
When stopping medications, remember to count the day of your procedure as the last day to hold. For example, if you're instructed to stop your medication 3 days before surgery and your procedure is on a Monday, your last dose would be on the Friday before.
To view this list as a PDF, click here.
If you have any questions, please contact Waukee Surgery Center at 515.875.8000.
PLEASE NOTE: If medications are not stopped on time, you may be at risk for your surgery to be cancelled.
If you have any questions or need clarifications, please call us at 515.875.8000
If you have any questions or need clarifications, please call us at 515.875.8000
Anticoagulants/Antiplatelets
The follow medications, usually taken to keep blood from clotting, is to be stopped as instructed by YOUR prescribing physician (either cardiologist or primary care).
If not told to stop, call surgeon’s office for directions.
| Aggrastat/Tirofiban STOP 4-8 hrs before surgery | Dalteparin/Fragmin STOP 12-24 hrs before surgery If unsure, contact your primary care provider. | Eptifibatide/Integrilin STOP 4-8 hrs before surgery |
| Apixaban/Eliquis STOP 3 days before surgery | Dipyridamole /Persantine STOP 1 day before surgery | Fondaparinux/Arixtra STOP 2-3 days before surgery |
| Aspirin Dipyridamole /Aggrenox STOP 7 days before surgery | Edoxaban/Savaysa STOP 3 days before surgery | Pentoxyfylline/Trental STOP 5 days before surgery |
| Cilostazol/Pletal STOP 2 days before surgery | Effient/Prasugrel STOP 7 days before surgery | Rivaroxaban/Xarelto STOP 3 days before surgery |
| Clopidogrel/Plavix STOP 7 days before surgery | Elmiron/Pentosan STOP 5 days before surgery | Ticagrelor/Brilinta STOP 7 days before surgery |
| Coumadin/Warfarin /Jantoven STOP 5 days before surgery | Enoxaparin/Lovenox STOP 12-24 hrs before surgery If unsure, contact your primary care provider. | Ticlodipine/Ticlid STOP 10 days before surgery |
| Dabigatran/Pradaxa STOP 5 days before surgery |
Tumor Necrosis Factor Blocker TNF Blockers/Inhibitors
Usually taken for Crohn’s Disease, Ulcerative Colitis, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Spondylitis, Psoriatic Arthritis & Plaque Psoriasis.
| Adalimumab, Enbrel, Etanercept & Humira | Stop 14 days before surgery- if not instructed to stop by surgeon, ask your primary care provider. |
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators
SERMs
Usually used for Breast Cancer, Osteoporosis.
| Evista & Raloxifene | Stop 3 days before surgery |
| Nolvadex, Soltamox & Tamoxifen | Stop 14 days prior to surgery |
Medications with Phentermine.
Usually taken for weight loss.
| Adipex-P, Belviq, Bontril, Fastin, Lomaira, Phentermine, Topiramate, Qsymia, Contrave, Suprenza, etc. | Stop 7 days before surgery. |
Weight Loss Medication Not Containing Phentermine
Taken for weight loss.
| Contrave, Naltrexone, Bupropion, etc. | Stop 3 days before surgery. |
| Diethylpropion, Tenuate | Stop 2 days before surgery. |
Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists
GLP-1s (WHEN TAKEN ONCE WEEKLY)
Usually used for weight loss.
| Dlyxin, Albiglutide, Bydureon/BCise, Byetta, Dulaglutide, Exenatide ER, Liraglutide, Lixisenatide, Mounjaro, Ozempic, Pramlintide, Rybelsus, Semaglutide ER weekly dosing, Symlin, Tanzeum, Tirzepatide, Trulicity, Wegovy, etc. | Stop 7 days before surgery |
Antineoplastics
Usually taken for certain cancers.
| Hydroxyurea | Stop 5 days before surgery- if not instructed to stop by surgeon, ask your primary care provider. |
Sodium Glucose Co-transporter-2 Inhibitors
SGLT2is
Usually taken for diabetes.
| Bexagliflozin, Brenzavvy, Canagliflozin, Dapagliflozin, Empagliflozin, Farxiga, Invokana, Jardiance, etc. | Stop 3 days before surgery |
| Ertugliflozin and Steglatro, etc. | Stop 4 days before surgery |
Glucagon-like Peptide Agonists
WHEN TAKEN DAILY OR TWICE DAILY
Usually taken for Diabetes and/or weight loss.
| Byetta, Exenatide IR twice daily dosing, Liraglutide daily dosing, Rybelsus, Saxenda, Semaglutide IR daily dosing, Victoza, etc. | Stop 24 hours before surgery |
Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors
Usually taken for erectile dysfunciton.
| Avanafil, Cialis, Levitra, Sildenafil, Stendra, Tadalafil, Vardenafil, Viagra, etc. | Stop 3 days before surgery. |
Janus Kinase Inhibitor
JAK inhibitors
Usually taken for Rheumatoid Arthritis, Psoriatic Arthritis, Juvenile Arthritis, Spondyloarthritis, Ulcerative Colitis, Dermatitis & Alopecia.
| Baricitinib, Olumiant, Rinvoq, Tofacitinib, Upadactinib, Xeljanz, etc. | Stop 3 days before surgery. If not instructed to stop by surgeon, ask your primary care provider. |
Opioid Antagonists
Usually taken for opioid abuse/alcohol abuse history.
| Depade, Naloxone, Naltrexone, Narcan, ReVia, Vivitrol, etc. | Stop 3 days before surgery. |
Incretin Memetic
Usually taken to lower blood sugar.
| Lixisenatide, Insulin Glargine, Soliqua, etc. | Stop 24 hours before surgery. |
Selective Serotonin Receptor Agonists
SSRA
Usually taken for migraines.
| Almotriptan, Amerge, Axert, Eletriptan, Frova, Frovatriptan, Imitrex, Maxalt, Naratriptan, Relpax, Rizatriptan, Sumatriptan, Zolmitriptan, Zomig, etc. | Stop 24 hours before surgery |
Cholinesterase Inhibitors
Usually used for Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia.
| Exelon, Rivastigmine, etc. | Stop 24 hours before surgery |
Marijuana
| Recreational, Oils, Gummies, Edible, etc. | Stop 24 hours before surgery |
Insulins
Do NOT take sliding scale insulin or quick-acting insulin the day of surgery.
Long-Acting Insulin or Insulin Pump
Check with your doctor that prescribes the Insulin regarding the dosage the day/night before surgery.
Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs NSAIDS
Usually used to relieve pain, reduce inflammation and/or bring down a high temperature.
| Advil, Aleve, Aspir 81, Aspirin, Celebrex, Celecoxib, Diclofenac, Diflunisal, Ecotrin, Etodolac, Ibuprofen, Ketorolac, Meloxicam, Mobic, Motrin, Nabumetone, Naprosyn, Naproxen, Toradol, Voltaren, etc. | Stop as instructed by surgeon. If unsure, contact your primary care provider. |