How many hours does it take for general anesthesia to wear off? Unpacking the Recovery Timeline
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4 min read
Most patients are awake within 5 to 15 minutes after the cessation of general anesthesia, but complete alertness typically takes 1 to 2 hours. This initial awakening is just the first phase of a multi-stage recovery process, so understanding **how many hours does it take for general anesthesia to wear off** completely involves considering both immediate and longer-lasting effects.