Fasting Instructions
Your surgeon will generally advise you on how long before your procedure you should not eat and drink, what drugs to take and not to take, and the likely duration of your stay in hospital, and those are the instruction you should follow.
Our usual instructions for fasting times and drugs prior to your surgery are as follows but only if directed to do so by your anaesthetist:
If you are on Weight Loss drugs or certain Diabetic Drugs you have special instructions...
If you are on ozempic, wegovy, mounjaro, trulicity, victoza, saxenda then you MUST have clear fluids for 24 hours prior to surgery. This is because these drugs slow the rate at which food and puts you at risk of having that food going into your lungs when you are drowsy or asleep (called "aspiration"). Formal guideline for professionals.
For that 24 hours before surgery you can have: Water Black tea or black coffee, Jelly, Honey, Cordial (eg lemon), Ice Blocks (popsicles, Icy poles), Hard boiled lollies/candy, Electrolyte "sports" drinks, Clear broths, consommé, dissolved stock cubes or clear miso soup (without any solids such as seaweed or tofu), Soft drinks, mineral water or soda water (eg lemonade), Apple juice, vegetable juice or fruit juice without pulp. See link for a paper copy of instructions.
On the day of the procedure you should fast for 6 hours prior to your surgery (no eating or drinking, you can have medications with a sip of water).
For everybody else...when should I fast from?
You must fast for at least six hours prior to the procedure. Between 6 hours and 2 hours before surgery you can have water, and water alone. Between 2 hours before surgery and the surgery HAVE NOTHING AT ALL (except tablets with a small sip of water)
However, these fasting times are only general guides, and your specific fasting time will be provided to your for your procedure.
What about my tablets?
Most tablets are usually continued up to the day of surgery, but there are exceptions for tablets that can thin the blood, such as aspirin, warfarin, and novel anticoagulants. Your surgeon will provide instructions for your specific situation. Tablets can be taken with a small sip of water even when fasting.
We discuss diabetes drugs and insulin in a separate section.
These are guidelines only and should not replace specific instructions by your surgeon or specific anaesthetist.