Taking Ozempic, Wegovy, or Mounjaro? Learn why GLP-1 medications matter before dental sedation and what to tell us.
Medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro have become some of the most widely prescribed drugs in the country for diabetes, weight management, and heart health. If you take one and have dental treatment with sedation or general anesthesia coming up, there is one thing to do first: tell us.
These medications are not a reason to avoid care. They are a reason to plan ahead. If you are taking a GLP-1 medication and need sedation dentistry, call The Dental Anesthesia Center at (314) 862-7844 or request a consultation so we can review your medications well before your appointment.
Which Medications Are We Talking About?
GLP-1 medications mimic a natural hormone that helps control blood sugar and appetite. Some newer drugs also act on a second hormone, called GIP. Common names include:
- Semaglutide: Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus (a daily pill)
- Tirzepatide: Mounjaro, Zepbound
- Dulaglutide: Trulicity
- Liraglutide: Victoza, Saxenda
Compounded versions of these drugs count too. If you are not sure whether a medication you take belongs on this list, include it when you share your medication list with us, and we will sort it out.
Why These Medications Matter For Sedation
One way GLP-1 medications work is by slowing how quickly your stomach empties. That is part of why people feel full longer. It also means food can stay in the stomach longer than usual, even after the normal fasting period before a procedure.
That matters because sedation and general anesthesia relax the reflexes that normally protect your airway. If the stomach is not empty, there is a risk that its contents could come back up and be breathed into the lungs, a serious complication called aspiration. Standard fasting instructions are designed to prevent this, but for some people taking GLP-1 medications, they may need to be adjusted.
The concern is greatest with deep sedation and general anesthesia, when protective reflexes are most relaxed. Dental care with numbing alone does not raise the same issue, but we still ask for a complete medication list at every visit.
What Current Anesthesia Guidance Says
Advice on these medications has changed as research has grown. In 2023, the American Society of Anesthesiologists recommended holding GLP-1 medications for 1 day or 1 week before procedures, depending on the formulation. In late 2024, five medical societies, including the American Society of Anesthesiologists, released updated joint guidance with a more individualized approach:
- Many patients can keep taking their medication as prescribed before a procedure.
- Patients with a higher risk of delayed stomach emptying may be asked to follow a liquid diet for 24 hours beforehand, or other precautions may be taken. Higher-risk situations can include recently starting the medication or increasing the dose, or having symptoms like nausea, vomiting, bloating, or stomach pain.
- Decisions should be made together by the patient, the anesthesia provider, and the doctor who prescribes the medication, taking each person’s situation into account.
The guidance also recognizes that stopping these medications has its own risks, such as higher blood sugar for people with diabetes. That is why the plan should be personal, not a one-size-fits-all rule.
What To Do Before Your Sedation Appointment
- Do not stop your medication on your own. Your anesthesia team and prescribing doctor should make that decision together.
- Tell us early. Share the name of your medication, your dose, the day you take it, and when you started or last changed the dose.
- Bring your medication list, or the boxes and pens themselves, to your consultation so nothing is missed.
- Mention any stomach symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, constipation, or feeling full quickly.
- Follow the instructions we give you exactly. Your eating, drinking, and medication instructions may differ from what you were told before or from what a friend was told.
- Call us if anything changes between your consultation and your visit, including a new dose or new symptoms.
At The Dental Anesthesia Center, sedation and anesthesia are planned and monitored by a team that includes dental anesthesiologists. Reviewing your full medical history, including newer medications like these, is part of how we plan IV sedation and general anesthesia for each patient.
Contact The Dental Anesthesia Center
If you take a GLP-1 medication and need dental care with sedation, you do not have to put treatment off. A little planning ahead helps us prepare a sedation plan that fits your health.
Call (314) 862-7844 or request a consultation. If your dentist is referring you, they can send your information through our referral form.