Preparing properly for your EP procedure helps ensure a safe outcome and smooth recovery. Please read these instructions carefully and contact our office if you have any questions.
Medications — general rule
As a general rule, continue taking all of your regular medications as usual before your procedure unless you are specifically told otherwise. Do not stop any medication on your own without speaking to us first.
Blood thinners — specific instructions
Blood thinners require specific attention around the time of your procedure. The instructions differ depending on which blood thinner you are taking.
For most EP procedures, we ask you to continue taking warfarin at your usual dose right up until the day of the procedure. Do not stop it. We will check your INR (blood level) before the procedure to ensure it is in the appropriate range.
If you are taking a NOAC (Eliquis, Xarelto, or Pradaxa), we ask you to take your last dose approximately 24 hours before your scheduled procedure time, then hold the medication until after the procedure.
It is important not to stop your NOAC for more than 48 hours. The window of stroke risk increases significantly beyond that point. Your anticoagulation will be restarted the same day as your procedure — this is intentional and important.
If you are unsure of the timing for your specific procedure time, please call our office and we will walk you through it.
GLP-1 medications — special instructions
If you are taking a GLP-1 agonist medication — such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Zepbound, or similar — you require a special dietary preparation before your procedure. This is because GLP-1 medications slow stomach emptying, which increases the risk of aspiration (stomach contents entering the lungs) during sedation.
Please follow this clear liquid nutrition plan carefully if you have taken a GLP-1 medication in the past 4 weeks:
Regular Diet
Eat normally until 7:00 PM
After 7:00 PM: Clear liquids only
Clear Liquids All Day
Clear liquids only for the entire day — no solid food
Clear Liquids
Clear liquids until 4 hours before your procedure
Nothing by mouth in the 4 hours before your procedure
What counts as a clear liquid?
- Water and glucose water
- Fruit juice without pulp (apple juice is a good option)
- Carbonated beverages (sodas)
- Sports drinks without protein
- Clear tea and black coffee — no creamer
- Chicken or beef bouillon / broth (fat free, low sodium)
- Gelatin — lemon, lime, or orange only, no fruit, no toppings
If you are not sure whether you need the GLP-1 protocol, call our office. It is always better to ask than to assume — arriving with a full stomach can result in your procedure being rescheduled for your safety.