Medicines and supplements: the pre-procedure review

Category: Safety · Editorial Review: Updated 20 October 2026 · 3 minute read

Make the list usable

Record prescribed medicines, nonprescription products, vitamins, herbal preparations, and injected treatments, including dose and frequency where known. Include the reason each is taken and any recent changes. Bring photographs of packaging when names differ between countries. Translation can be particularly important when a brand name has several formulations.

Do not self-adjust

Ask the responsible clinician which medicines should continue and whether any changes require agreement from your usual specialist. Stopping a blood thinner, diabetes medicine, steroid, or other essential treatment without advice can create new risks. A booking coordinator should not be the sole source of individualized medication instructions.

Close the loop after care

Before returning home, reconcile the original list with new prescriptions and temporary changes. Ask when each medicine resumes, which symptoms warrant contact, and who handles refills. Keep a written version in a language you understand so that aftercare does not depend on remembering a conversation during a stressful appointment.

Putting the discussion into practice

When several clinics are involved, identify one clinician who will reconcile the combined medication plan. A prescription from one appointment may conflict with instructions from another. Do not assume that natural or herbal products are irrelevant to the review. A single updated document can prevent contradictory instructions and should include allergies or prior adverse reactions as well as medicines.

Questions to take to the consultation

Ask: Who has reviewed the complete list? Which instructions come from the treating doctor and which need approval from my regular specialist? What should I do if the two teams disagree? When should temporary changes be reversed? Make sure the final plan is written and dated. If a medicine is unfamiliar, ask for its generic name and purpose so a clinician at home can understand the prescription even when the brand differs. If new prescriptions are supplied in Korean packaging, ask for an English or generic-name medication list. Include intended duration and the prescribing clinician. This is especially useful if a pharmacy or emergency service at home needs to identify the medicine quickly.

Continue exploring

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• Why your own cells do not mean zero risk
• Infection and cell-based procedures
• Prepare your consultation checklist

Sources & further reading

• ISSCR patient guide

Read alongside your treating specialist’s advice. Clinical eligibility, exact products and treatment plans require individual assessment.