Surgeons are cautioning that failing to disclose smoking or marijuana use could lead to serious complications during surgery. Dr. Kunal Sood, an anesthesiologist based in Maryland, emphasized that regular marijuana consumption might alter how the body processes medications, leading to faster breakdown of anesthetics.
He noted, “It’s crucial to be open with your anesthesia team about your complete medical and social history, especially regarding cannabis use.”
Currently, around 51 million Americans use cannabis at least weekly—this includes both recreational and medicinal users. Additionally, nearly 18 million consume it daily. Regular marijuana use can elevate certain liver enzymes, which in turn might cause anesthetics and even common pain medications to lose their effectiveness more quickly.
Moreover, marijuana interacts with the same brain systems as anesthetics, complicating the effectiveness of sedation. This diminished effectiveness could result in patients waking up during surgery, presenting risks such as sudden muscle movement and associated injuries, along with psychological trauma.
Research indicates that marijuana users may require significantly higher doses of anesthetics—up to ten times more than non-users—to achieve the desired effect.
Doctors stress the need for transparency about marijuana usage, whether through smoking, vaping, or edibles, since each method influences anesthetic response.
Patients who have experienced waking up during surgery have described the experience as horrific, leading to recurring nightmares and anxiety. Interestingly, reports suggest these patients do not feel pain as their nerves remain numb.
Dr. Sood recently shared this information in a viral TikTok video which garnered millions of views, where he advised that long-term cannabis use necessitates larger anesthetic doses.
Many viewers reacted, with some expressing gratitude for raising awareness, while others recounted personal experiences of waking up during procedures. One individual recalled waking during a colonoscopy and described it as an “awful feeling.”
Several explained that they had reported their marijuana use to doctors, only to be dismissed with comments like “that’s not real” or “don’t worry about it.”
Experts point out that edibles present a particular risk, as their effects are prolonged and can linger in the system long after ingestion. In contrast, the effects of smoked or vaped marijuana usually only last one to three hours.
Patients are encouraged to provide details about the THC potency of their marijuana, as this information can help determine the appropriate anesthetic dosage. Medical professionals are committed to confidentiality regarding patients’ cannabis use and emphasize that this knowledge is essential for proper care.
This awareness could potentially prevent unnecessary complications post-surgery, longer recovery stays, or even readmissions.
Uncertainty remains around the exact number of patients waking up during surgery due to marijuana, but estimates suggest it could be in the thousands, considering the 40-50 million surgeries conducted annually in the U.S., alongside the 17.7 million self-identified habitual users.
Earlier studies indicated that those who consumed marijuana before surgery required at least 50 percent more anesthetics than non-users. Other analyses even propose that some may need up to ten times more.
Dr. Jiff Zafar, an anesthesiologist at Yale, stated the importance of knowing not only the quantity but the form of marijuana patients are using to understand its potency and its implications for anesthesia effectiveness. The American Society of Anesthesiologists advises refraining from marijuana usage starting midnight the day prior to surgery to mitigate risks like elevated heart rate and blood pressure that could complicate surgical outcomes.
Post-surgery, experts recommend against marijuana use to support proper recovery.
