Vitamins, Herbs, Rx, Drugs and Food to NOT Take

Vitamins & Extracts

Some surgeons are now recommending certain vitamins and extracts to help prepare and heal for surgery. Before taking anything, be sure to consult your plastic surgeon. Bromelain for one is an anti-inflammatory agent and for this reason is helpful in healing minor injuries, particularly sprains and strains, muscle injuries, and the pain, swelling, and tenderness that accompany sports injuries.

Also as a result of its anti-inflammatory effect, bromelain has been found to dramatically reduce postoperative swelling in controlled human research. Six Double blind research has found bromelain effective in reducing swelling, bruising, and pain for women having minor surgery after giving birth (episiotomy). One of our site visitors said it did wonders for her with very little swelling and slight, short lasting bruising!

Supplement FAQ - by Dr. Steve Byrd, Dallas, TX

Prescription Pain Medications used in Plastic Surgery

The following was given to us by a pharmacist (Thank you Jen):

All drugs are placed into one of seven categories called "controls". The categories are:

C7 (available over the counter)
C6 (prescription only - nonaddictive us.)
C5 thru C2 (have addictive potential, which us. increases as the number decreases, as does the ability to relieve pain)
C1 (strongly addictive & no therapeutic benefits).

Darvocet N-100 is a C4 drug...not real strong. It contains Propoxyphene Napsylate 100mg and Acetaminophen 650mg.

Tylenol #3 is a C3 drug...a little stronger. It contains Codeine 30mg and Acetaminophen 300mg.

Lortab, Lorcet, and Vicodin are all C3's and are somewhat stronger than Tylenol #3. They contain varying combinations of Hydrocodone and Acetaminophen.

Narcotic analgesics are all pretty much equal when it comes to pain relief or strength. The narcotic analgesics are as follows:

Dilaudid (Hydromorphone)
Demerol (Meperidine)
Mepergan Fortis (Meperidine & Promethazine) - these three all cause less constipation & nausea, especially the Mepergan Fortis because it contains an extra ingredient (promethazine) used to treat & prevent nausea.
Tylox (Oxycodone 5mg & Acetaminophen 500mg)
Percocet (Oxycodone 5mg & Acetaminophen 325mg)
Percodan (Oxycodone 5mg & Aspirin 325mg) -these three are more apt to cause constipation & nausea.
MS Contin (Morphine Sulfate)
Oxycontin (Oxycodone 10mg & up)

The last two are the strongest because they contain more mgs of the active ingredient per pill. These are usually reserved for people with more severe pain, such as cancer pain.

Drugs and Food to NOT Take

Do not take any medication that contains aspirin for 2 weeks prior to the scheduled date of your surgery. Aspirin affects your blood's ability to clot and could increase your tendency to bleed at the time of surgery and during the postoperative period. Please check the labels of medications that you take (even those available without prescription) to ensure that you do not take aspririn.

The following interfere with blood clotting. Serious bleeding complications may occur at surgery. Stop taking any of these immediately the day you decide on surgery and at least three weeks prior to the procedure. If you need to take something for relief of minor pain, you may take Tylenol.

PRESCRIPTION AND OVER THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS:
Allylgesic
Alprin
Amsodyne
Anacin
Anexsia
Anodynos
Anti-Ten
Any Antihistamine
Anturane
APAC
A.P.C
Arthritis Formula
Arthritis Buffrin
ASA Compound
A.S.A. Enseals
Advil
Aleve
Alka-Seltzer
Alka-Seltzer Plus
Anacin
Anaprox
Ansaid
Argesic-SA
Arthritis Pain Formula
Arthritis Strength Bufferin
Arthropan liquid
Ascriptin (all types/brands)
Aspirin (all brands)
Asalco
Ascriptin
Ascodeen
Aspadine
Asperbuf
Aspergum
Asphac-G
Aspirin (all brands)
Atoka
Atromid
Axotol
B.C. tablets and powder
Bachache formula
Bayer Products
Bayer children's cold tablets
BiAct
Bitrin
BUF
Buf-Tabs
Buff-A
Buff-A-Comp
Buffadyne
Bufferin (all formulas)
Buffets II
Buffinol
Butazolidin
Cafacetin
Cama arthritis pain reliever
Cama Inlay
Carisoprodol
Carpon
Cheracol
Christodyne
Chlortrimetron
Clinonil
Coastalgesic
Cadasa Tap
Coldate
Colrex
Congesprin
Congesprin Chewable
Cope tablets
Coumadin
Covangesic
CP2
Croicidin
Damason-P
Darvon-Aspirin
Darvon Compound
Dasicon Capsules
Decojen
Dedache
Defencin
Depto
DeWitts Pills
Dicumerol
Dipyridamole
Disalcid
Dolobid
Dolpin
Dover's Powders
Dovosal
Drinophen
Dristamead
Dristan
Duradyne
Duragesic
Dynosal
Easprin
Ecotrin
Emagrin
Empirin
Empirin with codeine
Emprazil
Endep
Entab-650
Equagesic
Equagesic tablets
Excedrin
Febrinette
Feldene
Fendol
Fiorinal
Fiogesic
Fish Oil
Flagyl
Flexaril
Florinal
Forbutol
Four Way cold tablets
Furadantin
4-Way Codeine
Gelcoid
Gemisyn
Gemnisin
Ginseng (all types/brands)
Gelpirin
Gold/ Gold Salts
Goody's headache powders
Haysma
Heparin
Histadyl-Aspirin
Hypan
Ibuprofen
Indocin
Indomethicin
I-PAC
Isobarb
Isollyl
Lanorinal
Lioresal
Lortesal
Lortib
Macrodantin
Magim
Magsal
Marnal
Marplan
Marval
Measurin
Medomen
Mepro
Meprogesic
Merida
Methocarbamol with aspirin
Micrainin
Midol
Mobidin
Mobigesic
Momentum
Momentum Muscular
Monacet
Motrin
Nalfon
Naprosyn
Naproxen
Nardil
Nicobid
Nicorette gum
Nicorette patch
Nitrofurantoin
Norgesic
Norgesic Forte
Nuprin
Opasal
Orudis
Os-Cal-Gesic
Pabalate-SF
Pabirin
PAC Compound
Pamate
Pamelor
Pan-Pac
Pepto-Bismol (all types)
Pasibar
Percobarb
Percodan
Perodan
Persantine
Persistin
Phenergan
Phenotron
Phentermine
Phenylbutazone
Ponstel
Presalin
Propoxyphene compound
Protension
Pyrroxate
Quinidine/ Quinine
Quiet World
Rhinate
Rhinex
Rhino
Rhinocapa
Roboxisal
Rufen
Ru-Lor-N
S-A-C
Salatin
Saleto
Salphenin
Salsprin
SK-65 compound
Sine-Aid
Sine-Off
Sine-Aid/Sine-Off/Sinutab
Sinex
Solocol
Soltice
St. Joseph's cold tablets
St. John's wort (all types/brands)
Sulindac
Sulfinpyrazone
Supac
Synalgos
Synalogo
Tabloid APC
Tagamet
Talwin compound
Ten-Shun
Tenuate Dospan
Tolectin
Tolmetin
Toradol
Triaminicin
Trigesic
Trillisate tablets/liquid
Uracel
Ursinus
Vanquish
Vantrin
Van-Trol-#1
Verin
Viagra
Viro-Med
Vitamin E (more than 600 units daily)
Vitamin C (more than 1000 mg daily)
Voltaren
Warfarin
Zactirin
ZORprin
Zomax
Zomepirac

VERY IMPORTANT (THESE MAY AFFECT YOUR ANESTHETIC):
Asendin
Aventyl
Elavil
Etrafon
Limbitrol
Nardil
Norpramin
Pamelor
Parvate
Sinequan
Tofranil
Triavil
Vivactil

PLEASE LET US KNOW IF YOU TAKE ANY OF THESE FOODS ON A DAILY BASIS:
Almonds
Apricots
Berries
Cherries
Circumin
Cucumber
Currants
Curry
Garlic
Grape Juice
Garlic
Grapes
Jelly Marmalade
Licorice
Nectarines
Oranges
Peaches
Pickles
Plums
Preserves
Prunes
Raisins
Tomatoes
Tonka-bean tea
Woodruff tea

HERBS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO NOT TAKE:
Aloe
Bilberry
Bioflavenoids
Cayenne
Cellasene
Cellustop
Celluthin
Chamomile tea
Chondroitin
Echinacea
Ephedra
Fish
Fish Oil
GAG's
Garlic
Ginger
Ginko Bilboa
Ginseng
Glucosamine
Licorice Root
Ma Huang
Magnesium
Melatonin
Oils (Safflower, Omega-6)
Omega fats
Pantethine
Selenium
St. John's Wort
Sweet Clover
Taurine
Valerian Root
Vitamin B-6
Wine
Yohimbe

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