“Does anxiety affect anesthesia?”
I am a 30 year old female. I want to know if anxiety affects anesthesia?
7 Answers
Patients who are anxious often have elevated blood pressures and heart rate before anesthesia. They often need a medication to alleviate their anxiety in order to control the blood pressure and heart rate. On the other hand, patients who are already on anti anxiety medications show an abnormal response to general anesthesia. They often need more anesthesia than patients who are not taking anti anxiety medications.
Hi!!! Anxiety does not affect anesthesia. In fact, in my experience, 90% of people are anxious before surgery. It’s totally normal, so you’re not alone. And it’s our job as Anesthesiologists to make you feel safe and calm and comfortable. If you’re super anxious while going to sleep, it might take a little more medicine to get you to fall asleep, but that’s not a problem at all. Also I find sometimes, especially women, can have a little crying session after they wake up. I equate it to when a friend has a couple cocktails and end up sobbing to you… completely ok and kind of endearing. So you’ll be absolutely fine :)
Anxiety, whether short-lived situational anxiety or life-long generalized anxiety, is something commonly encountered by anesthesiologists. Anxiety calming medicines (anxiolytics) are commonly used to help patients manage with the stress of surgery. If you suffer from anxiety, it is helpful to let your anesthesia provider know so that they can anticipate your needs and help.
Sometimes the medicine you take regularly for treating anxiety may increase the dose requirements in the OR. It is not uncommon that people with severe anxiety may need more anesthesia than others during surgery. It is a combination of normally heightened awareness coupled with chronic anxiolytics that usually results in these observed greater requirements.
Sometimes the medicine you take regularly for treating anxiety may increase the dose requirements in the OR. It is not uncommon that people with severe anxiety may need more anesthesia than others during surgery. It is a combination of normally heightened awareness coupled with chronic anxiolytics that usually results in these observed greater requirements.
No
If you are prone to be anxious it can affect your peri-operative experience. Many patients are a bit more difficult to gain IV access if they are nervous. You may be given doses of ant-anxiety medications that stay in your system longer than other anesthetic medicines. Having said that, the majority of surgical patients have anxiety and it is rare for it to cause significant issues.
Barbara Watanabe MD
Barbara Watanabe MD
Yes it can. Often times anxious individuals require a higher dose of anesthesia medications but Anesthesiologists are equipped to handle that issue.
Anxiety will increase your blood pressure and heart rate. However, we have drugs like versed, also known as midazolam, which is an anti-anxiety medication. The drug is also an amnestic, so it affects your memory also.
