Guide · Safety · 2 min read
Before surgery or anaesthesia
GLP-1 medicines slow down how quickly your stomach empties. 1 So during general anaesthesia or deep sedation, there can be a higher risk of food or drink getting into your lungs. 1·4
Tell them ahead
- Before surgery or any procedure where you will be put to sleep, tell your healthcare team and the anaesthetist that you use this medicine. 1·2·3·4
- Tell them before dental treatment or a procedure with a sedative too. 6·7
- Your pre-procedure instructions or the anaesthetic technique may need to change. 1
Should I stop the medicine
- Don't stop it on your own. Keep taking it as usual and talk to your doctor before stopping. 1
- Most people can continue. The multi-society guidance says the medicine may be continued before surgery in people without a raised risk of delayed stomach emptying. 5
- The decision is shared. The guidance says it should be made together with you. 5
What raises the risk
According to the guidance, the risk of delayed stomach emptying is higher in these situations. 5
- The dose increase phase, compared with a steady dose. 5
- A higher dose. 5
- Weekly medicines, compared with daily ones. 5
- Symptoms such as nausea, vomiting or tummy pain. 5
If your risk is higher, your team may ask for
- At least 24 hours of a liquid-only diet before the procedure. 5
- An ultrasound on the day to check whether your stomach is full. 5
- A talk about the anaesthetic technique if your stomach seems full. 5
In CalJab
Your dose history shows the day and amount of your last dose, which helps when you talk to the anaesthetist. You can add the surgery date and your questions to your doctor report.
Get your pre-procedure instructions from your surgeon and anaesthetist.
Sources
- 1MHRA (UK medicines regulator): GLP-1 medicines for weight loss and diabetes: what you need to know. Updated 5 February 2026. gov.uk
- 2Wegovy product information and package leaflet. European Medicines Agency (EMA). Accessed 20 October 2026. ema.europa.eu
- 3Mounjaro product information and package leaflet. European Medicines Agency (EMA). Accessed 20 October 2026. ema.europa.eu
- 4Wegovy US prescribing information and Medication Guide. Novo Nordisk, FDA approved. Accessed 20 October 2026. novo-pi.com
- 5Kindel TL, et al. Multi-society clinical practice guidance for the safe use of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the perioperative period (ASMBS, ASA, AGA, ISPCOP, SAGES). Surgical Endoscopy 2025;39:180-183. link.springer.com
- 6NHS: Semaglutide. Last reviewed 15 May 2026. nhs.uk
- 7NHS: Tirzepatide. Last reviewed 15 May 2026. nhs.uk
Written by the CalJab team, with sources. It does not replace your doctor's advice. Found a mistake? Write to support@caljab.app.