Surgery, a procedure, or an appointment

I have surgery, sedation, an endoscopy, or dental work.

Tell the procedural and anesthesia teams that you use a GLP-1 medicine as soon as a procedure is being planned. Include the exact product, dose, last administration, recent dose changes, and digestive symptoms. These medicines can delay stomach emptying; retained stomach contents matter during anesthesia or deep sedation.

Current multisociety guidance does not say that every patient must stop every GLP-1 medicine for a fixed period. Many patients can continue treatment. Risk assessment includes factors such as dose escalation, significant digestive symptoms, and other conditions affecting stomach emptying. In selected cases, the team may advise a liquid-only diet for 24 hours, modify the anesthesia plan, or delay a procedure.

What to do next: Your procedure and travel reminders · What your prescriber needs to know

In the book: The surgery and sedation conversation, page 163 — the full answer continues there.

I want a page to take to my appointment.

Bring your medication list, relevant readings, and a brief food or symptom record if it will help.

Who will adjust what, and when: ____________________

What should make me contact the team sooner: ____________________

Next review date and contact route: ____________________

Printable: this page as a free PDF

In the book: 7. My appointment page, page 172.

I need a reminder card for a procedure or a trip.

For a procedure: tell the procedural and anesthesia teams the medicine, dose, last dose, recent dose changes, and symptoms. Obtain their medication, eating, and drinking instructions. Write them here:

For travel: check the product’s exact temperature limits, permitted time outside refrigeration, and discard rule. Plan food, fluids, and safe storage. Write the pharmacist’s instructions here:

Printable: this page as a free PDF

In the book: 8. My procedure and travel reminders, page 173.

What does my prescriber need to know?

Tell your care team about all medicines and supplements, a planned pregnancy, breastfeeding, a history of pancreatitis or gallbladder problems, major stomach-emptying problems, diabetic eye disease, and any planned procedure involving anesthesia or deep sedation. Semaglutide and tirzepatide products carry a boxed warning concerning thyroid C-cell tumors seen in rodents and contraindications involving a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2. Those are specific conditions, not a general statement that every thyroid diagnosis rules out treatment.

If you take insulin or a sulfonylurea, arrange a blood sugar plan before treatment changes. The combination can increase hypoglycemia risk. Do not reduce insulin yourself; do not assume low blood sugar is impossible without it. Chapter 3 explains what to do.

In the book: Information your prescriber needs, page 21.