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Stop Supplements Before Surgery: How Long to Wait
Many people are asked to stop supplements before surgery, and FDA says a clinician may request two to three weeks ahead. MSK says St. John's wort should be stopped at least one week before surgery. Your surgical team sets your date. Keep taking prescribed medicine unless told otherwise.
Written by the MemoPryl label deskUpdated · 4 min read
How long before surgery should I stop supplements?
Often two to three weeks, but your surgical team decides. FDA says a health care professional may ask you to stop supplements that long before a procedure, to avoid changes in heart rate, blood pressure or bleeding risk (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements).
MSK is more specific for one herb: St. John's wort should be discontinued at least one week before surgery or chemotherapy (MSK, St. John's Wort).
These are the sources we hold, not a rule for every case. The timing for your product depends on the ingredient, your surgery and your health.
What does a before-surgery timeline look like?
Start the conversation weeks before, not days. A supplement list takes minutes to review, but a stop date needs room to work.
- As soon as surgery is booked
Make a list of every supplement, with the bottle.
- At the pre-op visit
Hand over the list. Ask for each stop date in writing.
- Two to three weeks out
The window FDA says clinicians may use (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements). Stop what you were told to stop.
- The week of surgery
Re-check the list and confirm the plan with the team.
Keep taking your prescribed medicine unless the surgical team says otherwise. Supplements are the ones to review first.
Which supplement names matter most for surgery?
Any with bleeding, blood pressure or sedation effects. Ginkgo is a common flag because FDA says it can thin the blood (FDA, Mixing Meds and Supplements), and MSK lists spontaneous bleeding case reports (MSK, Ginkgo).
A sibling MemoPryl pack names ginkgo biloba leaf and St. John's wort among six ingredients. They are unconfirmed for your bottle, and no amount is printed on any image we hold. If your bottle lists either, tell the surgical team.
| Name | Why raise it | Source note |
|---|---|---|
| Ginkgo biloba | Bleeding risk | FDA, MSK |
| St. John's wort | Affects many medicines, including some used around surgery | NCCIH, MSK |
MemoPryl: capsules in 2, 3 or 6 bottlesRead the bottle · check your medicines · 60-day window (confirm)
See packsWhat should I bring to the pre-op visit?
Bring the bottle, a medicine list and your questions. Name each product and say how long you have taken it.
Ask which items to stop, when to stop, and when it is safe to restart. If the bottle has no Supplement Facts panel, say so; the team may advise holding it. More prompts sit on the pharmacist question page.
Memory worries in the weeks before surgery are worth mentioning too. See who this product is for.
Thinking about MemoPryl?Check your medicines with a pharmacist first. Prices and the 60-day window are confirmed at checkout.
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FAQ01
Quick answers on supplements and surgery
Do I need to stop vitamins before an operation?
Not always, but tell the team about every vitamin and supplement, because some affect bleeding. Vitamin E is one FDA lists as able to thin the blood. The surgical team will say which to stop and when.
When can I restart supplements after surgery?
Only when your surgical team says so. Restarting too early can affect healing or bleeding. Ask for the restart date at the same visit where you get your stop date, and write both down.
What if my surgery is urgent and I took a supplement?
Tell the team right away, and bring the bottle if you can. Urgent surgery does not wait for a washout period, so the team needs the name and the last dose time to plan around it.
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