Expert: Ronald Levy, M.D. - 7/8/2010

Question
Dr. Levy,
I have a friend who has been on Nardil for many years. She is very afraid of going under anesthesia to have colon pollups removed.  What is your best advice----for her to go off the 15 mg of Nardil approximately 2 weeks before surgery?  She has been told the withdrawl symptoms are very bad---almost as bad as heroin withdrawl.  Colon cancer runs in her family history.....wouldn't it be best to have the pollups removed and find out for sure if they are cancerous or not?  There are just not many resources out there to help with questions and information and referals of surgeons %26 anesthesiologists that will perform surgery on patients using Nardil.  Your prompt attention and response is Greatly Appreciated  ***Please Respond Promptly....I want to help my friend---I want her to Live %26 Be Healthy....Please!!!  Thank you :-)

Answer
It really is up to the anesthesiologist if he feels comfortable doing anesthesia on your friend but I think most will. She should not stop the medication unless under a physicians guidance. Nardil ceratinly makes the anesthetic harder but not impossible.


Ronald Levy, MD
Professor of Anesthesiology
UTMB-Galveston