By category
| Type | Why it's prescribed | Examples (educational only) | Watch for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antibiotics | Prevent infection | Cephalexin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, clindamycin, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim | Finish the full course. Rash, hives or severe diarrhea → call. |
| Pain relief | Short-term pain control | Acetaminophen; a short opioid course; sometimes non-opioid alternatives | Opioids cause drowsiness and constipation. Don't combine with alcohol or sleep aids. Count total daily acetaminophen. |
| Anti-nausea | Nausea after anesthesia or from pain medication | Ondansetron, promethazine, scopolamine patch | Vomiting strains fresh incisions — take it early. |
| Muscle relaxants | Spasm after muscle repair (tummy tuck) or under-muscle implants | Methocarbamol, cyclobenzaprine, diazepam | Adds to opioid drowsiness. |
| Stool softeners / laxatives | Prevent constipation from anesthesia, opioids and inactivity | Docusate, senna, polyethylene glycol | Start on day 1, not day 5. |
| Blood thinners | Prevent blood clots in higher-risk patients | Enoxaparin (Lovenox) injections | See below. |
Blood thinners (enoxaparin / Lovenox)
Not every patient needs one. Your surgeon decides based on the length of surgery, combined procedures, and your personal clot risk.
- It's a small prefilled injection under the skin of the belly or thigh, usually once or twice daily for a short course.
- Ask to be shown the first injection — by the surgical team, a nurse or your pharmacist.
- Small bruises at injection sites are common. Report unusual bleeding, black stools or large swelling at the surgical site.
- Only you, a trained caregiver or a licensed nurse should give it. News investigations have found unlicensed recovery-house staff injecting patients.
Safety rules
- Only take medication prescribed to you, from labeled pharmacy bottles. Never accept "extra" pills from a recovery house or another patient.
- Keep a written schedule — doses are easy to double or miss when you're groggy.
- Don't add over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or aspirin unless your surgeon approves (bleeding risk).
- Ask before restarting supplements, weight-loss injections or hormones.
- Bring all bottles to your follow-up if you have questions.
Getting prescriptions filled
Fill prescriptions before surgery day when possible. If you're from out of town or won't be mobile, several Miami pharmacies deliver to hotels and recovery houses — a pharmacist can also answer questions about interactions and timing.
Examples are listed for education only and are not recommendations. Your surgeon chooses the right medication and dose for you.