Why Supplements Must Stop Before Surgery

Surgical teams ask about supplements for specific reasons, and the answers people give are frequently incomplete.

Bleeding risk

Several common supplements affect platelet function or coagulation. Ginkgo, garlic, ginger, high-dose fish oil, vitamin E at high doses and turmeric have all been implicated. The concern is intraoperative and postoperative bleeding, and it compounds with any anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication the patient is already taking. This is the most frequently cited category and the most commonly overlooked by patients.

Anaesthetic and cardiovascular interactions

Kava and valerian may potentiate sedative anaesthetic agents. St. John's Wort induces enzymes metabolising several anaesthetic and analgesic drugs, altering their effect, and has been associated with cardiovascular instability in case reports. Ephedra-type stimulants affect blood pressure and heart rhythm. Ginseng has been associated with hypoglycaemia. Anything affecting blood pressure interacts with anaesthetic-induced changes.

The standard advice

Stop supplements roughly two weeks before elective surgery unless your surgeon advises otherwise, which allows enzyme induction to reverse and platelet function to normalise. Tell the surgical team and the anaesthetist everything you take, including things you consider trivial. Do not stop prescribed medication on your own initiative - that is a decision for the clinical team. Bring the actual bottles or photographs of the labels rather than trying to recall names.

How this relates to Cognizil

Cognizil works through nutrient and botanical support rather than any acute stimulant effect, so it is not designed to produce a same-day change — the Bacopa research it rests on ran to roughly twelve weeks. Our 30-day assessment guide explains how to test it properly against a recorded baseline. The Cognizil discount is applied automatically by quantity on the order page.