surgery/methadone

[punklove]

i am haveing surgery tomorrow on my arm, i was in a bad car wreck and broke it, anyways im a recovering addict and i take liquid methadone daily, its kinda a high dose, anyways i will be takeing it before my surgery also....is it ok to be under anthesia while on methadone? im so scared

[hellc@mst]

I had 2 surgeries while on the methadone. Both required a GA. The last surgery i had was to debride an infected injection site. So my drug addict status was well known and fully disclosed. I suggest you be completely honest with your anaesthetist. Your methadone prescription is important for an anaesthetist to calculate the proper dose.

  I remember i was asked to take my dose as usual prior to surgery and just before i was knocked out i was asked repeatedly if i had used  "anything" else. They then told me some horror story of a guy who had not disclosed his drug use before being anaesthetised and was unconscious for many days. So i was forthcoming with them and the surgery went ahead with no complications.

So my advise is be honest. Ask in advance what their protocols entail regarding methadone dosing on the day of a surgery requiring a GA. Be forthcoming about ANY drug/medication you have used in the 24 hours prior to surgery.

I think as long as you follow these suggestions you will be fine.

All the best. Regards Jeremy.

[chronicmistake]

You have to tell the surgeon and anesthesiologist before surgery or else your putting safety in jeopardy along withing  scaring the poop out of the doctor if your blood pressure gets too low during surgery.  Please be Honest.  

[dominosarah]

Is the surgical team aware of this?

[Punkinhead75]

I don't know.  Make sure you speak to the anesthesiologist he would know best.  I would also call today and find out.  If you take it and it isn't ok than your surgery can be postponed.