Which class of medications should be stopped before surgery due to bleeding risk?

• A. Antibiotics
• B. Antihypertensives
• C. Antiplatelets
• D. Antidepressants

Answer: (C)

Antiplatelet medications are the ones that should be stopped before surgery because they prevent platelets from sticking together to form a clot. This platelet function is essential for stopping bleeding during and after an operation. When these drugs are in use, even minor surgical trauma can lead to excessive bleeding, so holding them ahead of an elective procedure allows platelets to regain their normal ability to form clots. Since many antiplatelets cause lasting effects until new platelets are made, the typical approach is to plan a hold period (often about a week or more, depending on the drug and the procedure) to reduce bleeding risk. In contrast, antibiotics are used to prevent infection, antihypertensives are usually managed to keep blood pressure stable during surgery, and antidepressants aren’t primarily about bleeding risk in the same direct way, though some individual medications can have other perioperative interactions. The key idea is that antiplatelets raise bleeding risk and are the class commonly stopped before surgery.