What are the side effects of general anesthesia?
Minor side effects from general anesthesia and surgery are common. These include nausea, sore throat, headache, muscle aches, or a generalized weak and foggy feeling. Fortunately these are most often not serious and resolve on their own in hours or a few days after surgery. Rarely these side effects are severe enough to require specific treatment or possibly further hospitalization.
Because general anesthetics affect the central nervous system, patients may feel drowsy, weak, or tired for as long as a few days after having general anesthesia. Fuzzy thinking, blurred vision, and coordination problems are also possible. For these reasons, anyone who has had general anesthesia should not drive, operate machinery, or perform other activities that could endanger themselves or others for at least 24 hours, or longer if necessary. Most side effects usually disappear as the anesthetic wears off. A nurse or doctor should be notified if these or other side effects persist or cause problems, such as: • Headache • vision problems, including blurred or double vision • shivering or trembling • muscle pain • dizziness, lightheadedness, or faintness • drowsiness • mood or mental changes • nausea or vomiting • sore throat • nightmares or unusual dreams A doctor should be notified as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur within two weeks of having general anes
The usual side effects you may experience after receiving general anesthesia include nausea, a sore throat, or feeling weak & tired. These effects should pass quickly as you recover from surgery. There can be several other side effects from general anesthesia, and what you experience can depend on: your age and gender, general health, surgical procedure, body position during surgery, and type & amount of anesthesia drugs used. Your anesthesiologist is prepared to discuss these issues with you before your surgery.
