Medication-Specific Guidance Required
The question asks about stopping a medication for 3 days before restarting, but no specific medication was identified in the query. Without knowing which medication is being referenced, I cannot provide evidence-based guidance on appropriate washout periods or restart protocols.
General Principles for Medication Interruption and Restart
Based on available guideline evidence, medication-specific washout periods vary dramatically depending on:
Antiplatelet Agents (Surgical Context)
- Clopidogrel requires 5-7 days discontinuation before elective surgery and can be restarted postoperatively once hemostasis is assured 1
- Prasugrel requires at least 7 days discontinuation before surgery due to increased bleeding risk 1
- Ticagrelor requires at least 5 days discontinuation before planned procedures 1
Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (Hematologic Toxicity)
- For dasatinib with Grade 3-4 neutropenia: hold until ANC ≥1000/mm³, then resume at original dose if recovery occurs within 7 days 1
- For dasatinib with Grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia: hold until platelet count ≥50,000/mm³, then resume at original dose if recovery occurs within 7 days 1
- If recovery takes longer than 7 days, dose reduction is required upon restart 1
Midostaurin (Non-hematologic Toxicity)
- For Grade 3/4 nausea/vomiting: interrupt for 3 days (6 doses), then resume at 50 mg twice daily with escalation to 100 mg twice daily if tolerated 1
- For other Grade 3/4 non-hematologic toxicities: interrupt until resolved to ≤Grade 2, then resume at reduced dose 1
Opioid Conversion Protocols
- When converting from continuous IV fentanyl to oral methadone after >7 days: the fentanyl infusion is tapered over 48 hours while initiating methadone, not stopped abruptly for 3 days 1
Critical Safety Consideration
A 3-day interruption followed by restart is not a standard protocol for most medications in clinical guidelines. The evidence shows that:
- Most medication holds are based on laboratory recovery parameters (blood counts, liver function) rather than arbitrary time periods 1
- Antiplatelet agents require 5-7 days minimum for adequate washout before procedures 1
- Psychiatric medications like bupropion require gradual tapering over 4-8 weeks, not abrupt 3-day stops 2
Recommendation
Please specify which medication is being referenced so that evidence-based guidance on appropriate discontinuation duration and restart protocols can be provided. The safety and appropriateness of a 3-day hold depends entirely on the specific drug's pharmacokinetics, indication, and clinical context.