Medications Given Before, During, and After Procedures

BEFORE PROCEDURES

        Large-spectrum antibiotic—for example, Ancef or cefazolin

DURING PROCEDURES

        Barbiturates and/or benzodiazepines: Medication used to relax a patient just prior to surgery commencing—for example, Valium or Versed

        Local anesthesia: Medication injected into the skin to numb or block pain in a specific site

        Regional anesthesia: Medication injected into a cluster of nerves to numb the part of the body that is undergoing the procedure—for example, an epidural during labor and delivery

        General anesthesia: Medication given via IV to put the patient to sleep and suppress pain throughout the entire body—for example, Propofol; sometimes a temporary paralytic, such as Succinylcholine

AFTER PROCEDURES

        Pain management:

           Opioids: Examples: Duramorph (morphine), Dilaudid (hydromorphone)—typically given in tab form as Lorotab or Percocet upon discharge to manage pain (see here for a discussion of opioids)

           Analgesic pain management: Examples: Tylenol (acetaminophen), ibuprofen

        Anticoagulants: Used to prevent clotting, a major risk of surgery as the body responds to injury by making platelets to reduce bleeding—for example, Coumadin (warfarin), Heparin, Lovenox (enoxaparin)

ADDITIONAL

        Stool softener: To counteract opioid-induced constipation and sluggish GI system after surgery—for example, Colace (docusate sodium) or Senokot

        Acid reducer: Famotidine

        Anti-nausea medications: Zofran, Phenergan