If you take a GLP-1 medicine and have surgery or a procedure coming up, tell the team arranging it early. A weight-management prescription belongs on your medication list even when the procedure seems unrelated to your weight or is taking place at a different office.
The goal is coordination: your prescriber, procedure clinician, and anesthesia team need accurate information so they can give you instructions for your circumstances. An internet checklist cannot decide whether you should continue, pause, or restart a medicine.
Why the medication matters to the procedure team
Some GLP-1 medicines can slow stomach emptying. During general anesthesia or deep sedation, stomach contents entering the airway are a serious concern. The current Wegovy prescribing information includes a warning about pulmonary aspiration and directs patients to tell healthcare professionals about planned procedures.
This does not mean every person needs the same adjustment. The American Society of Anesthesiologists’ patient guidance emphasizes discussion with the anesthesia team, surgeon, and prescribing clinician. Its guidance notes that many patients can continue treatment, while individual circumstances may require a different plan.
When the procedure is booked, provide the medicine’s exact name and formulation, the prescribed schedule, the date of your most recent dose, and the prescribing office’s contact details. Include other prescriptions, nonprescription medicines, and supplements as well.
Tell the team if you recently started treatment or if your prescribed regimen has changed. Describe symptoms you are experiencing, particularly nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, or constipation. Do not assume these details are already visible in another clinic’s records.
A photo of the current pharmacy label can help you report the name accurately. If someone helps you manage medications, ask them to assist with the list before the preprocedure call. Update the information if anything changes after that conversation.
Ask for one written set of instructions
Different offices may handle different parts of your care. If their instructions seem inconsistent, ask them to reconcile the plan rather than choosing whichever version sounds easiest. Useful questions include:
- Who is responsible for the final medication instructions before this procedure?
- Does my prescribing clinician need to speak with the procedure or anesthesia team?
- Which eating and drinking instructions apply specifically to me?
- What changes or symptoms should I report before arrival?
- Whom should I call if I have already taken a dose or cannot follow an instruction?
- Who will explain the medication plan after the procedure?
Write down the person’s name and the date you received the guidance. Keep the instructions with the appointment details so the plan is available during any follow-up call.
Avoid making your own medication or fasting changes
Do not stop treatment, take a compensating dose, extend a fast, or adopt another patient’s liquid-diet instructions on your own. The procedure team must consider the procedure, anesthesia plan, your health, and the reason you take the medication. If you are uncertain, contact them before the appointment rather than waiting until check-in.
For an urgent or emergency procedure, tell the treating team what you take as soon as you can. Do not delay emergency care to contact a wellness office or complete a routine medication review.
Keep the conversation connected
For background on the services available locally, see Elevate Wellness’s weight-management information. If you are preparing for a visit, contact the Wichita team with the questions you want to discuss.
The essential step is making sure the professionals responsible for your prescription and procedure know about one another’s plans. A clear handoff is more useful than trying to find a universal number of days to stop a medication online.