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Lumbar Puncture - How To Prepare
About this test
Before you have a lumbar puncture, tell your doctor if you:
- Are taking any medicines. If you take medicines every day, ask your doctor whether you should take these medicines on the day of the lumbar puncture.
- Are allergic to any medicines, such as those used to numb the skin (anesthetics).
- Have had bleeding problems or take blood-thinners, such as aspirin, warfarin (Coumadin), or clopidogrel (Plavix).
- Are or might be pregnant.
- Take any herbal remedies. Some of these remedies may thin the blood.
You will empty your bladder before the procedure.
For a lumbar puncture, you will be asked to sign a consent form. Talk to
your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the need for the procedure,
its risks, how it will be done, or what the results will mean. This procedure
is often done in an emergency situation. If you are scheduled to have this
procedure, you can understand the importance of it by filling out the
medical test information form 
(What is a PDF document?).
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: August 25, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Joseph O'Donnell, MD - Hematology, Oncology | |
© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.
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