Care Anaesthetics · Perth

Patient information

Ozempic, Peptides And Fasting.

Medications like Ozempic and similar peptides slow down your digestion. There are updated guidelines regarding these drugs now. You should continue taking them as usual, and then be sure to follow the special 24 hour fluid based diet/ fast pre-operatively as follows:

GLP1_fasting_instructions_VER4.pdf - page 1 of 1

Pre-surgery patient information
Care Anaesthetics

Your GLP-1 fasting plan

For patients who have taken, or been on, any of the following medications in the last 2 months.

  • Wegovy / Ozempic: semaglutide
  • Mounjaro: tirzepatide
  • Trulicity: dulaglutide
  • Victoza / Saxenda: liraglutide

These medicines are becoming increasingly common, and many patients now need special fasting instructions before surgery. They work in different ways to support your health, but they also slow the rate at which your stomach empties.

If the stomach is not empty, its contents can come back up under anaesthesia and enter the airway or lungs, which can lead to an emergency. To keep your procedure safe, follow the plan below instead of any instructions you received earlier.

Your fasting timeline

24 hours before: Clear fluids only

Stop all solid food and milk-based liquids. From 24 hours until 6 hours before surgery, consume only the approved clear fluids below.

Approved:

  • Water
  • Clear cordial, such as lemon cordial
  • Black tea or black coffee - no milk
  • Clear broth or strained miso soup - no solids
  • Apple juice or pulp-free fruit juice
  • Plain jelly, icy poles or clear soft drinks

Avoid:

  • Milk, milk-based drinks or yoghurt drinks
  • Coffee or tea with milk or creamer
  • Soup containing vegetables, meat, noodles or solids
  • Orange juice, cloudy juice or juice with pulp
  • Ice cream, smoothies or alcohol

6 hours before: Water only

All other clear fluids must stop. From this point, drink water only.

2 hours before: Nothing by mouth

Stop drinking water. Do not eat or drink anything until after your procedure.

If unsure

When uncertain, do not drink it - contact the surgical unit for advice. Incorrect fasting may delay or cancel surgery, for your safety.