The Medical Leader is published weekly by Pikeville Medical Center.
Facebook
|
Twitter
|
Blog
|
Photos
|
<< Back
Medical Leader News - Ask the Pharmacist: Can the medicines you take cause problems during surgery?Ask the Pharmacist: Can the medicines you take cause problems during surgery?
By Brad Gentry, PharmD Candidate
Liz Hodges, PharmD.
Sometimes the answer to this question is yes. Many common medicines have the potential to lead to problems during surgery. Some of these medicines can cause bleeding problems. Others can increase the risk of harm to your kidneys.
Many drugs can put you at an increased risk of bleeding during surgery. Plavix (clopidogrel), Pletal (cilostazol), aspirin, Ticlid (ticlopidine), Aggrenox (aspirin-dipyridamole) and NSAIDs (including but not limited to: Advil or Motrin (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen), Celebrex, and Mobic) cause increased bleeding by shutting down the body’s ability to form clots. Coumadin (warfarin) thins the blood and also increases the time it takes for an injury to clot. Also, although many people think of them as harmless, vitamins and herbals can sometimes pose a risk. Vitamin E and several herbal medicines such as garlic and St. John’s Wort can also thin the blood. Always tell your doctor about every medicine you take (including over-thecounter and herbal medications) so a plan can be made before the surgery. Many of these drugs may need to be out of your body for a week or more.
If you are taking Glucophage (metformin), you may need to stop taking it before a procedure during which contrast dye is used. Many different scans and diagnostic tests use contrast dye. Contrast dye can hurt the kidneys; when combined with metformin, this risk is increased. Again, always tell your doctor about all medicines you are currently taking well before your surgery; doing this aids your doctor in making an informed decision about holding and/or decreasing any of your doses. Never stop taking any of your prescribed medications without first consulting your physician.
If you have a question for the pharmacist send it to liz.hodges@pikevillehospital.org.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Use
Comments, Concerns
Joint Commission Contact
©2005-2010 Pikeville Medical Center
E-mail our Webmaster to report Website problems. | 
