Fasting and Medication Instructions
Fasting and Medication Instructions
FASTING INSTRUCTIONS:
Food:
Please fast from all food-types for at least 6 hours prior to your admission time. This includes chewing gum, lollies, and mints.
- If your admission time and surgery is scheduled for the morning, please fast from midnight.
- If your admission time is scheduled closer to midday for surgery in the afternoon, you can have a light breakfast. Please ensure that you have finished your meal at least >6 hours prior to your admission time (a light breakfast consists of liquids, 1 egg or cereal or a piece of toast. Do not eat greasy foods such as bacon or sausage).
Fluids:
You may drink plain water up until 2 hours prior to your admission time – please limit your intake to 250ml per hour.
You may also drink clear fluids up until 2 hours prior -this includes black tea, black coffee, cordial and pulp-free juice.
NB: Milk, juice (with pulp) and other liquids are classified as food and must be ceased >6 hours prior to your admission time.
There should be no food or fluid intake beyond the 2-hour mark prior to your admission time.
Failure to follow these instructions greatly increases the chance of serious adverse complications under anaesthetic and as such, your procedure may be delayed until you are properly fasted or potentially cancelled on the day.
MEDICATIONS:
Please continue taking all your usual medications unless specifically advised otherwise by your Surgeon or Anaesthetist. Medications may be taken with a small glass of water.
Important Exceptions:
Diabetes Medications and Anticoagulants / ‘Blood Thinning’ medications
Special circumstances apply to anticoagulants and injectable insulins and oral diabetes medications, particularly SGLT2 inhibitors, such as:
- dapagliflozin (Forxiga, Qtern, Xigduo XR)
- empagliflozin (Jardiance, Jardiamet, Glyxambi)
Please discuss these medications directly with your Anaesthetist at least 3 days prior to your procedure as these may need to be adjusted, paused, or changed.
Weight loss and other diabetes medication – GLP1 Receptor Agonists*
If you are taking medications such as Ozempic (Semaglutide), Trulicity, Wegovy, Byetta, or Victoza, it is essential that you follow a fluid-only diet for the 24 hours prior to surgery.
Failure to do so will result in your procedure being rescheduled. These medications can significantly delay stomach emptying, which poses a serious risk of aspiration during anaesthesia, potentially causing severe infection or even death.
Permitted fluids include:
- Water
- Clear juices
- Sports drinks
- Tea or coffee (without milk)
- Clear soup or broth
All fluid intake must stop 6 hours before your anaesthetic.
*For more information on how you must fast if you are taking a GLP1 receptor agonist, please follow this link to the patient information form, produced by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA).
Any concerns regarding your medications are best clarified with your Anaesthetist by contacting the Strive Anaesthesia rooms on (08) 6158 9997.
