For at least 24 hours after an anaesthetic or sedation, have a responsible adult with you, and do not drive, drink alcohol, make important decisions or sign legal documents. Drowsiness, a sore throat and mild nausea are common and usually settle quickly. Call 000 straight away for trouble breathing, chest pain or a severe reaction.
In an emergency, call 000
Call 000 if you or the person you are caring for has difficulty breathing, chest pain, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, heavy bleeding, a seizure, or cannot be woken.
In the recovery room
Recovery staff will look after you as you wake up, check your breathing, blood pressure, pain and nausea, and give you treatment if you need it. You may be offered a drink and something light to eat before you go home.
Going home
You will need a responsible adult to take you home. Most hospitals and practices will not let you leave alone, or by taxi or rideshare on your own, after an anaesthetic or sedation. For most procedures, someone should also stay with you overnight.
The first 24 hours
Anaesthetic medicines can affect your memory, judgement and coordination for the rest of the day, even if you feel fine. For at least 24 hours, or longer if you have been told to:
- do not drive or ride a bike, or operate machinery or power tools
- do not drink alcohol
- do not make important decisions or sign legal documents
- do not look after young children, or someone who depends on you, on your own
- rest at home, and take your medicines as directed.
Common effects and what helps
| What you might notice | What usually helps |
|---|---|
| Drowsiness or poor concentration | Rest, and avoid important tasks until the next day |
| Feeling sick | Small sips of water, then plain food; take anti-nausea medicine if you were given some |
| Sore throat or hoarse voice | Cool drinks and throat lozenges; it usually settles in a day or two |
| Muscle aches or headache | Rest, fluids and the pain relief you were advised to take |
| Bruising where the drip was | It fades over several days |
| Constipation, if you are taking strong pain medicine | Fluids, fibre, moving around, and ask a pharmacist about a gentle laxative |
Pain relief
Take the pain relief you were advised to take, at the times you were told. Pain relief is more effective when it is taken regularly in the first few days, rather than waiting for pain to become severe. If your pain is not controlled, contact the hospital, practice or surgeon who treated you.
When to get help
Call 000 for any of the emergency signs listed at the top of this page.
Get advice the same day if you have:
- vomiting that does not settle, or you cannot keep fluids down
- pain that is not controlled by the pain relief you were given
- a fever, or redness, swelling or discharge at a wound or drip site
- a headache that is severe or getting worse
- numbness or weakness that is lasting longer than you were told to expect
- any other concern about how you are recovering.
For these, contact the hospital or dental practice where you had your procedure, or your surgeon or dentist. You can also call healthdirect on 1800 022 222 at any time for advice from a registered nurse.
For questions about your anaesthetic that are not urgent, you can contact Dr Aly’s rooms on 0411 965 272. Do not use the website enquiry form for anything urgent.
After sedation for dental treatment
If you also had local anaesthetic, your mouth may stay numb for several hours. Avoid hot drinks and food until the feeling returns, and take care not to bite your lip, cheek or tongue. Follow your dentist’s instructions about bleeding, mouth rinses and eating.
Sources
- Australian Society of Anaesthetists. After your anaesthetic. Accessed 2 Nov 2026.
- healthdirect Australia. General anaesthetic. Last reviewed Dec 2025.
- Better Health Channel (Victorian Department of Health). Dental anxiety and phobia. Reviewed 22 Oct 2025.
- ANZCA. Professional documents (including PS55 facilities, PG18 monitoring, PS19 monitored care, PS04(A) post-anaesthesia care, PG29(A) children). Accessed 2 Nov 2026.
- Written by
- Altitude Creative, health content team, on behalf of Dr Walid Aly
- Clinical reviewer
- In progress
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In an emergency, call 000. This information is general and does not replace advice from your treating practitioner.