GLP-1 and dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonists e.g  Mounjaro, Ozempic, Wegovy

✤  If you are taking a GLP-1 or dual GIP/GLP-1 receptor agonist, make sure you inform your healthcare team including myself about this prior to your surgical procedure. 
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✤ This medicine slows the emptying of your stomach, increasing the risk that stomach contents (e.g. food and drink) could enter into your airways and lungs during surgery or procedures whilst you are under general anaesthesia or deep sedation. This means that a modification to the pre-procedure instruction and anaesthetic technique may be required.

✤ Take your prescribed medicine(s) as usual and do not stop your treatment without first discussing this with your doctor. ​

Herbal and alternative therapies

The actual ingredients of many novel and alternative therapies are uncertain and in some circumstances will interact with anaesthesia. As a result I advise that all herbal and alternative medications are stopped at least one week prior to surgery.

Medication and allergies

As a general rule you should continue to take all your normal pills and medications (with a sip of water if required) at the normal times even on the day of surgery except in the following circumstances..


✤  you take any drugs that end with ….pril (eg ramipril, lisinopril) – avoid these on the day of surgery

✤  you take any drugs that end with …artan (eg losartan, valsartan) – avoid these on the day of surgery

✤  you take tablets to control your diabetes. All pills and tablets used to treat diabetes should be omitted on the day of surgery (if you take long-acting medication e.g. Lantus, please discuss this with me)

✤  you take warfarin. Warfarin should be stopped 5 days prior to surgery . If you take warfarin because you have a mechanical heart valve you will need specialist advice
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If you are having  a facelift procedure or eyelid surgery, then your blood pressure control is extremely important, please discuss your medication with me well before the day of the operation.