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How long should I stop GLP-1 medications before surgery?

Reviewed by the glpzoom Editorial Team against primary clinical sources — FDA labeling, peer-reviewed trials, and specialty-society guidelines.
Content current as of June 2026; updated when guidance or availability changes.
Per American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) 2024 guidance: hold once-weekly GLP-1 agonists (Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro) for at least 1 week before elective surgery requiring general anesthesia. The concern is delayed gastric emptying — even after 8-12 hour pre-operative fasting, GLP-1 patients may retain stomach contents, increasing aspiration risk during anesthesia induction. For liraglutide (Saxenda, Victoza, daily injection), hold the day of surgery. For emergent surgery where GLP-1 can't be held, anesthesia teams use rapid sequence induction and gastric ultrasound to manage risk. Tell your surgeon AND anesthesiologist about your GLP-1 use even if not asked. Restart after surgery once you're tolerating oral intake without nausea.

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