Tell every procedure team about your GLP-1 medicine

When you book an operation or a procedure involving anesthesia or deep sedation, mention your GLP-1 medicine early. Do not wait for someone to ask whether you take a “weight-loss injection.” The team needs the actual medication information, whatever the product is called or why it was prescribed.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists explains that these medicines can delay stomach emptying, which can affect anesthesia planning. Its patient guidance says most patients can continue treatment before surgery, while some need a different plan. That is a reason to coordinate with the treating teams, not a universal instruction to continue or stop on your own.

Put the information where both teams can see it

Keep an updated medication list, as FDA recommends. Include prescription medicines, nonprescription products and supplements. Give the procedure team the actual product name and current prescription instructions, and tell them when it was last taken. If you are unsure about a detail, use the label or contact the dispensing pharmacy.

Also tell the prescribing team about the procedure and its date. An appointment with one organization does not guarantee that another organization has received the record. Ask which office is responsible for reconciling the instructions.

Explain changes and symptoms accurately

ASA identifies treatment escalation, gastrointestinal symptoms and other factors that can affect stomach emptying as relevant to individualized planning. Report recent changes and current concerns in plain language. Do not minimize a symptom because you are worried the procedure might be delayed; the anesthesia team needs accurate information to assess the situation.

The team may consider changes to preparation, anesthesia or timing. The appropriate decision depends on the procedure and the person. This guide deliberately provides no medication-hold interval, fasting schedule or restart instructions.

Resolve conflicting instructions before the day

If a generic preparation sheet conflicts with a message from your prescriber, ask the offices to clarify the final plan. Write down who provided it and when. An older online rule may not match current professional guidance or your particular circumstances.

Ask about the period after the procedure as well. The prescribing and procedural teams should explain who will advise you about the medication plan and any follow-up. Do not infer a restart schedule from the fact that you have returned home.

Keep the note accessible

Bring the current instructions and medication list with you. If an urgent situation arises, tell the treating team about the medicine when you are able; emergency care should not wait for a routine portal reply. Our care-coordination note can help organize contacts, and the visit guide helps make room for this conversation before a procedure is imminent.