Urological Specialists

You will need to provide your specialist with a list of your current medication. Some procedures may require you to stop taking certain medications prior to your surgery in some cases (e.g. antibiotics) you may need to commence taking them before your procedure.

Please check with the Mr. Grills or Dr. McLeod or the Specialist Urology Nurse if you have any questions with regard to any other medications that you should cease or commence taking prior to surgery.

You should bring all your medications in their original boxes with you when you come into hospital for your surgical procedure.

 

Anti-Coagulation and Anti-Platelet agents (“Blood Thinners”)
You may be asked to cease taking these medications prior to your procedure:

  • Warfarin (Coumadin) must be stopped at least 5 days prior to surgery. If you are taking Warfarin you will need to talk to Mr. Grills or Dr. McLeod about stopping it. INR testing will usually be required a day before surgery or on the morning of surgery to ensure that your Warfarin levels are low enough for surgery to go ahead. You may need to be given Clexane injections whilst you are not taking your Warfarin. Not everyone needs these injections but if you do this will be discussed with you and we will organise this for you.
  • Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Apixiban (Eliquis), Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) medications may need to be ceased between 2-5 days prior to your surgery
  • Aspirin (eg. Astrix, Cartia), Clopidigorel (Plavix, Iscover), Ticagrelor (Brilanta), Dipyridamole (Asasantin, Persantin) may need to be ceased 10-14 days prior to your procedure, please discuss this with Mr. Grills or Dr. McLeod or the Specialist Urology Nurse.
  • NSAID's (Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) such as Voltaren, Naprosyn, Nurofen, Orudis, Feldine, Indocid and Dolobid sometimes will need be ceased 10-14 days prior to your surgery if . Please discuss with Mr. Grills or Dr. McLeod or the Specialist Urology Nurse.

 

Other Medications

  • Most other medications should be continued leading up to your surgery.
  • Morning medications should be taken with a sip of water.
  • On some occasions Mr. Grills or Dr. McLeod will give you instructions to commence antibiotics prior to your procedure leading up to your procedure. You should take these as prescribed.