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St. John's Wort Before Surgery: What Teams Ask
St. John's wort before surgery needs a plan made with your team. Memorial Sloan Kettering says to stop it at least one week ahead of surgery or chemotherapy (MSK, St. John's Wort), and FDA notes clinicians may ask for supplements to stop two to three weeks before a procedure (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements). Let your surgeon decide the date.
Written by the MemoPryl label deskUpdated · 4 min read
How long before surgery should I stop St. John's wort?
At least one week, says Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK, St. John's Wort). Your own surgeon may ask for longer.
FDA gives a wider window. A health care professional may ask you to stop supplements two to three weeks before a procedure, to avoid changes in heart rate, blood pressure or bleeding risk (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements).
The two numbers do not conflict. One is a floor for this herb, the other is a common request for supplements in general. The date that counts is the one your surgical team gives you.
Next step: ask at your pre-op visit, and ask for the date in writing.
Why does an anesthesia team care about an herb?
Because the herb can change how the body handles other medicines, and surgery uses many of them.
NCCIH says St. John's wort can weaken a wide set of medicines (NCCIH, St. John's Wort safety). During a procedure, a team relies on predictable drug effects. An unlisted herb removes some of that predictability.
The team is not judging you. They ask about supplements because the answer changes the plan. Say what you take, how much and when you last took it.
Pause only what your surgeon tells you to pause, and ask your doctor or pharmacist before you start any supplement.
What supplement list should I bring?
Bring one page that names every supplement, its form and when you last took it.
| Item | What to write |
|---|---|
| Product name | As printed on the bottle |
| Herbs named | Every herb on the Supplement Facts panel |
| Amount per capsule | From the panel, not from memory |
| Capsules a day | What you actually take |
| Last dose | Date and time |
Take a photo of the panel too. Ginkgo is another herb that can raise bleeding risk, so list it if you use it (MSK, Ginkgo).
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See packsDoes a MemoPryl buyer need to plan for surgery?
Yes, if surgery is coming. Two of the six names tied to MemoPryl, St. John's wort and ginkgo biloba, are ones clinicians ask about before procedures.
Those names come from a sibling pack and are unconfirmed for your bottle. No amount is printed on any image we hold. Read the panel when the bottle arrives, then share it with the team.
Planning an order near a procedure date? Read the pharmacist questions first, and see which names are linked.
Thinking about MemoPryl?Check your medicines with a pharmacist first. Prices and the 60-day window are confirmed at checkout.
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When can I restart after surgery?
When your surgeon says so. Do not restart on a guess.
Recovery may add new prescriptions, and the herb can weaken some of them. Ask the team to check the herb against every new medicine you go home with.
FAQ01
MemoPryl questions people ask
Can I take St. John's wort the night before surgery?
Do not. Sources advise stopping at least a week ahead, and some teams ask for longer (MSK, St. John's Wort). Tell the team if you already took a dose so they can plan around it.
Should I tell my dentist about St. John's wort?
Yes. Dental procedures can involve numbing agents, sedation and new prescriptions. Share your full supplement list at the visit, just as you would with a surgeon.
Do I need to stop other supplements before surgery?
Often yes. FDA notes clinicians may ask for supplements to stop two to three weeks before a procedure (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements). Bring the full list and follow the team's dates.
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