From the Research
It is not recommended to take ivermectin 2 weeks prior to back surgery without consulting your surgeon. You should disclose all medications you're taking, including ivermectin, to your surgical team during your pre-operative assessment. Ivermectin could potentially interact with anesthesia medications or affect blood clotting, which might complicate surgery. Additionally, most surgeons recommend stopping certain medications before surgery to reduce bleeding risk and other complications. The standard protocol typically requires patients to stop blood thinners, anti-inflammatory drugs, and certain supplements 7-14 days before surgery, and your surgeon will provide specific instructions tailored to your case. If you're taking ivermectin for a parasitic infection, your surgeon might want to delay the surgery until the treatment is complete or adjust the timing of your medication. Always follow your surgeon's specific pre-operative instructions regarding all medications.
Key Considerations
- Ivermectin's potential interactions with anesthesia and other medications should be carefully evaluated by the surgical team 1, 2.
- The risk of bleeding and other complications may be increased if ivermectin is not stopped before surgery, as with other medications that affect blood clotting 3, 4.
- The most recent and highest quality study on ivermectin, published in 2024, found that it did not reduce disease severity or improve outcomes in patients with COVID-19 3.
- A 2023 study found that ivermectin did not improve time to sustained recovery in outpatients with mild to moderate COVID-19 4.
- A 2011 study found that ivermectin was effective in treating chronic strongyloidiasis, but this is not directly relevant to the question of taking ivermectin before back surgery 5.
Recommendations
- Consult with your surgeon before taking ivermectin 2 weeks prior to back surgery.
- Disclose all medications, including ivermectin, to your surgical team during pre-operative assessment.
- Follow your surgeon's specific instructions regarding medications before surgery.
- Consider delaying surgery until ivermectin treatment is complete, if possible.