General Anesthesia

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Apr 6, 2025.

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What is general anesthesia?

General anesthesia is medicine to help keep you asleep, relaxed, and pain-free during a procedure or surgery. The medicine may be given through your IV or as a gas that is inhaled.

How do I prepare to receive general anesthesia?

You may not have time to prepare. If you do have time, your healthcare provider or surgeon will tell you how.

• You may be told not to eat or drink anything after midnight before surgery. Ask someone to drive you home and stay with you for 24 hours after surgery. The person should be able to help you sit, stand, lie down, and walk around safely. He or she will also need to watch for problems and call for help, if needed.
• If you smoke, your provider or surgeon will instruct you to stop at least 24 hours before you have anesthesia.
• Tell your provider or surgeon about all your current medicines. He or she will tell you if you need to stop any medicine for the surgery or procedure, and when to stop. He or she will tell you which medicines to take or not take on the day of surgery or procedure.
• Tell your provider or surgeon about any allergies you have, including to anesthesia or medicines. You may be given an antibiotic to help prevent a bacterial infection.
• Do not wear makeup or nail polish on the day of your surgery or procedure.

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What else do I need to know about general anesthesia?

• A breathing tube may be placed down your throat when you are asleep. You may instead have a mask placed over your nose and mouth. The breathing tube or mask will be hooked to oxygen and monitored by your healthcare provider.
• Your blood pressure, heart rate, and breathing will be monitored.
• Your provider may need to give you more medicine to keep you asleep during your procedure. The amount and type of medicine will depend on any medical condition you may have.

What should I expect after I have received general anesthesia?

• You will be taken to a room where you can rest until you are awake.
• You may be cold after waking up from anesthesia. You may also have nausea, vomiting, and a sore throat.
• Depending on your surgery or procedure, you will be taken to your hospital room or sent home. Do not drive yourself home. It is best if you can have someone stay with you for 24 hours after you have general anesthesia. Some problems with general anesthesia happen right away. Others can happen later.

What are the risks of general anesthesia?

You could have a severe reaction to the medicine. The medicine may cause nausea and vomiting. The medicine may also cause you to have a seizure, a very high fever, or a heart attack. These conditions may become life-threatening.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your healthcare providers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment. The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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