General anesthesia

Mayo Clinic Health Manager

Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.

Get Started

Free

E-Newsletter

Subscribe to receive the latest updates on health topics. About our newsletters

  • Housecall
  • Alzheimer's caregiving
  • Living with cancer

How you prepare

By Mayo Clinic staff

General anesthesia blunts your body's natural inclination to keep food in your stomach and out of your lungs. That's why it's important to follow your doctor's instructions about when to stop eating and drinking prior to surgery. In most cases, you should start fasting about eight hours before your procedure.

Your doctor may tell you to take certain medications with a small sip of water during your fasting time. You may need to avoid some medications, such as blood thinners like aspirin, for at least a week before your procedure. Some vitamins and herbal remedies also keep your blood from clotting normally, so you should discuss the types of dietary supplements you take with your doctor.

MY00100

June 27, 2008

© 1998-2009 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "EmbodyHealth," "Reliable tools for healthier lives," "Enhance your life," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Print Share Reprints

Text Size: smaller largerlarger