Tag: Preoperative medication

Pulmonary aspiration of stomach contents is a feared complication during general anesthesia, with gastric pH levels below 2.5 creating a risk for severe lung injury. So, the question arises: can you take famotidine before general anesthesia to mitigate this risk?

Derived from the Atropa belladonna plant, also known as deadly nightshade, atropine has a long history of use as a medicine, cosmetic, and poison. So, what is the drug atropine used for in modern medicine? It's a critical medication for treating dangerously slow heart rates and certain types of poisoning.

Anxiety before surgery is common, with one study finding about half of patients would welcome anti-anxiety medications. If you are feeling nervous, the pill they give you before LASIK surgery is typically a mild oral sedative, prescribed by your surgeon to ensure you feel relaxed and comfortable.

Anxiety before a medical procedure is incredibly common, and for LASIK patients, a mild sedative like Xanax can be offered to help ease nerves. While the surgery is not painful thanks to numbing eye drops, the thought of being awake for an eye procedure can be unnerving for some.

Over 4.5 million cataract surgeries are performed annually in the U.S., making it one of the most common surgical procedures. Before this common procedure, patients often wonder, "What drug do they give you before cataract surgery?" and will receive a combination of eye drops and, in some cases, oral or intravenous medication to ensure comfort and safety.

A significant number of patients undergoing surgery are treated with antidepressant medications, one of many drug classes that can interact with anesthesia [1.3.6]. Understanding what drugs mess with anesthesia is crucial for preventing complications during and after your procedure.