What supplements should I stop taking before surgery?

You may be interested in the current recommendations of an anesthesiologist. I will have surgery and talked with the anesthesiologist. She told me to stop the CoQ10 (I do not take blood-thinning medication), fish oil, and Pycnogenol or maritime pine bark. We discussed the 81 mg aspirin and she told me to keep taking it as it is prescribed by a cardiologist. She did not tell me to stop beta sitosterol but we did not discuss. I will call her back to make sure she knows I take it. If she tells me to stop it, I will supplement this comment. Thanks for the article. It is very much appreciated.

I had a breast reduction which involves a lot of extensive cutting. My surgeon couldn't get me to stop bleeding and I had to get a blood transfusion. Luckily, he had insisted I get my own blood stored for just such an occurrence although he's said he'd never needed it. Turns out I was taking Vit E supplements back when they were all the rage... so yea, very important to pay attention to this!

I wonder if SAMe needs to be stopped before surgery. Apparently one of its benefits is that it may be like an anti-inflammatory. My pre-op instructions advise to quit taking all anti-inflammatory supplements and medications. Would SAMe be considered an anti-inflammatory supplement to avoid before surgery?

Clinicians DON'T ASK about supplements!! I had to make an appt with my clinician to get them listed on my current medications because IF I was ever admitted to the hospital or in the ER, those clinicians should be able to to look at my medical record and see that info.

My teeth would bleed terribly when I went to the dentist for cleaning. Since avoiding the 81mg aspirin and fish oil the day of the visit, I have had NO problem. I take ginger, turmeric, glucosamine and chondroitin daily and do not stop them. I have had 2 outpatient surgeries in 2018 and did stop all the supplements that you mention for them.

I've performed anesthesia for thousands of surgical patients. I cannot quote you any hard facts from the medical literature on nutriceuticals and risks of peri-operative complications (mostly because there aren't a lot of hard facts on the subject). But, like with the investigations of the effects of fish oil supplements on surgical bleeding risk, I feel that very few of the products mentioned, when used responsibly, have any significant medical/surgical risks that would require stopping their use pre-operatively. There are exceptions of course, e.g., ephedra and other stimulants (which shouldn't be taken in the first place!). But, given that almost all supplements can be done without for a while, and given the pre-operative policies of most surgeons and anesthesiologists, it's probably best simply to stop your products pre-operatively as requested. Louis

Thanks so much for this - I have a pre-op appointment today and I take a boatload of supplements, many of which are on this list!

I have never been asked in any pre-op appointment about supplements. I knew about the ones that are taken for inflammation but I've never stopped my omegas. Interesting.

I have never been asked in any pre-op appointment about supplements. I knew about the ones that are taken for inflammation but I’ve never stopped my omegas. Interesting.

Eight days before routine hernia surgery I was surprised when the nurse reviewing my meds and supplements told me to stop taking CoQ10 immediately.