How to Reduce the Effects of Anesthesia

Anesthesia is used in surgery with some other medical procedures to lessen or eliminate pain and discomfort. Anesthesia can range from general, which induces unconsciousness, nerve blocks, such as epidurals given to women during childbirth, to local injections to numb a specific area, such as novocaine for a tooth filling. Though anesthesia is generally safe, it can produce negative side effects, such as nausea and fatigue. Some of these effects may be unanticipated and unavoidable; however, there are things you can do to reduce them.

Instructions

• 1

  Tell your surgeon and anesthesiologist about all medications you are taking, including over-the-counter drugs and supplements. Anesthesia can react with some drugs, causing unwanted and potentially dangerous side effects. Your doctor may want you to stop taking some drugs before the procedure, such as blood thinners, according to the Mayo Clinic.

• 2

  Tell your doctor about any allergies you have. According to the Mayo Clinic, this includes not only allergies to any drugs but also seasonal and pet allergies, food allergies and allergies to dyes and preservatives. This step could save you from a life-threatening allergic reaction to the anesthesia or to instruments and apparatuses used to administer it.

• 3

  Do not eat anything for at least 6 to 8 hours before your surgery or procedure if you are having general anesthesia. Eating too close to your procedure can lead to nausea and vomiting afterward. It can also increase your risk of aspirating food into your lungs during surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic, which can have life-threatening consequences.

• 4

  Do not drink anything for at least two hours before your procedure. Having liquids in your stomach also increases the risk of vomiting and aspirating fluid into the lungs during surgical procedures, says peacehealth.org.

• 5

  Take an anti-nausea drug either before or surgery. This can help reduce post-anesthesia nausea and vomiting. Your doctor can prescribe an appropriate medication for you. Harvard Medical School says that some anesthesiologists routinely prescribe such drugs.

• 6

  Give yourself adequate recovery time. Harvard Medical School says that fatigue is common after a procedure involving general anesthesia and can last for several days or even weeks. Make sure you do not try to rush back into work, school or other activities.