Do I need to stop medication before surgery?

I go in for my pre-op on May 12 and to meet with my Dr. and my surgery is May 13. I will probably be calling the doctor before then to double check this, but are there medications that should be stopped earlier than one day prior?? I am taking Paxil and sometimes take a sleep aid, Advil and Tylenol Allergy/Sinus. My time is getting near and I'm trying very hard not to wig out!!! I'm glad I found this site...it has been so helpful to me!

Dina

Hi Dina Please call your DR's office and ask this question, because every DR has his or her preferences about this. Many of us have been told to discontinue any aspirin, Vitamin C, Vitamin E or ibuprofen products a week or two before surgery, but your DR may give you different instructions.
s,
-Linda

Not only do I not have to stop taking my meds, but I'm taking my prescriptions and vitamins to the Castle with me so I don't have to pay hospital prices (with DR's permission). The only thing I've stopped was an 81mg asprin tablet (baby asprin) for heart health. I have a genetic tendancy to develop blood clots but my DR is going to give me blood thinner prior to surgery so I won't need that. I can re-start it a few weeks post-op or when I stop taking daily doses of ibuprofen (Motrin) which is also a blood thinner. In other words, if I'm taking ibuprofen I don't need to take asprin, too, because they both have the same blood thinning effect.

Of my vitamins, I take lots of A, B and 2000 mgs of vitamin C. I can continue taking this as long as I don't suddenly increase my dosage. Again, this is all with DR approval. You'll want to discuss with your DR what they want you to do. The only day I'll skip is the day of my surgery since I can't take anything by mouth that day.

In summary, make sure your DR knows EVERYTHING you're taking - prescription or not. Some of your meds can be a contraindication to some of the pain meds so they'll just end up selecting another pain control method. There are lots of options out there! It'll all work out.