Medications to Avoid & Bowel Protocol

Some medications and herbals should not be taken before surgery, as they may interfere with anesthesia or cause bleeding.  If applicable, stop all products below 10 days prior to surgery. May resume 48 hours post-surgery.

Exception: If you currently take any blood thinner medication related to your cardiac or vascular medical history, you must contact the prescribing provider and advise of upcoming procedure/surgery.  This can include, but not limited to:

Coumadin, Warfarin, Plavix, Xeralto, Eliquis, Pradaxa

Medications:

Actron, Advil, Aleve, Alka-Seltzer, Anacin, Analgestine, A.P.C or A.S.A, Anaprox, Ansaid, Ascriptin, Asperbuf, Aspercin, Aspergum, Aspirin, Aspirin Suppositories, Aspir-phen, Aspirtab

Bayer, Buffdyne, Buffaprin

Celebrex, Coricidin

Darvon, Darvon Compound, Daypro, Diclofenac, Dristan, Duragesic

Ecotrin, Equagesic Tabs, Etodalac, Excedrin

Feldene, Fiogesic, Fiorinal, 4 Way Cold Tabs

Gelprin

Haltran

Ibuprofen, Indocin, Indomethacin

Lortab ASA tabs

Medipren, Meprobamate, Midol, Motrin

Nambutone, Naprosyn, Naproxen, Norgesic, Norwich Aspirin, Nuprin

PeptoBismol, Pamprin, Percobarb, Percodan

Relafen, Robaxis

Sineaid, Sine-off, SomaCompTabs, Sulindac

Talwin, Tolectin, Toradol, Triaminicin, Trigesic,

Vanquish

Zorprin

Nutritional Supplements:

Bilberry

Cayenne, Chondroitin

Echinacea, Ephedra

Feverfew, Fish oil caps

Garlic, Ginger, Ginkgo Biloba, Ginseng, Glucosamine,Green Tea

Kava Kava

Licorice Root

Ma Huang, Melatonin

Omega-3 Fish Oil

St. John’s Wort,

Valerian, Vitamin E

Yohimbe.

*If you need to take something for headache, menstrual cramps or other aches and pains, you may take Tylenol (acetaminophen) as directed for the time prior to surgery. Check the labels on any medicines or supplements you plan to take in pill, capsule or liquid form. Do not take anything containing acetylsalycetic acid or salicylates.

 

Bowel Protocol

Constipation is a normal side effect after surgery. The combination of anesthesia and narcotic pain relievers will slow down the digestive tract. To help ease this side effect, please follow these guidelines:

 

To Help Avoid Constipation:

  • Drink 8-10 glasses of water a day
  • Take the Colace (docusate sodium 100mg) stool softener- start this a few days before surgery and continue after surgery until normal bowel movement is noted.  This is a stool softener, not a laxative, so you will not have to change normal activity. Take 1 – 2 pills each morning and each evening.
  • Taper off narcotic pain medication as soon as possible if tolerated. It is okay to take Tylenol (acetaminophen) or Advil (ibuprofen) to help ease pain. Remember that your prescription pain mediation may have acetaminophen in it, and you must not take more than 3,000 mg of acetaminophen in a day.

If constipation does occur:

  • Take Milk of Magnesia as directed. Generally, 2 tablespoons every 4 hours until it takes effect.
  • Drink a bottle of Magnesium Citrate, best served cold.
  • You may use a laxative suppository as needed (eg dulcolax suppository)
  • Use an enema as a last resort if none of the above has resolved the constipation.