Key takeaways:
Serious problems from general anesthesia are rare for healthy people who are having planned surgery.
Common side effects of general anesthesia include nausea, sore throat, and muscle aches, as well as shivering and confusion. Symptoms often get better within a few hours to a few days.
Contact your healthcare team if side effects last more than 48 hours or get worse. Symptoms like trouble breathing, chest pain, or severe vomiting need medical care right away.
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Having surgery and general anesthesia can feel scary, and it's normal to have questions. The good news is that general anesthesia is very safe for most healthy people having planned surgery. Serious problems caused by anesthesia are rare, happening in about 1 in 100,000 to 200,000 people in this group. The most common side effects from general anesthesia don't last long and get better with simple treatment.
Knowing what to expect can make recovery feel a little less stressful. Here are the most common side effects after general anesthesia and how they’re treated.
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV)
Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) is one of the most common complications of anesthesia. It can happen with any type of anesthesia, but it’s especially common after general anesthesia.
PONV usually starts within the first few hours after surgery. About 3 in 10 people experience it. You’re more likely to experience PONV if you:
Had PONV before
Get motion sickness
Receive opioid medications around the time of surgery
Your healthcare team may give you medication before or after surgery to prevent or treat nausea and vomiting. Some medications that can help include:
Aprepitant (Emend)
Droperidol (Inapsine)
Granisetron (Kytril)
Metoclopramide (Reglan)
Ondansetron (Zofran)
Sore throat
A sore throat is common after general anesthesia. During surgery, your anesthesia team may place a breathing tube into your windpipe (trachea) to help you breathe. The tube can irritate your throat and leave it feeling sore or scratchy afterward. Rarely, placing the tube can cause a small injury to the mouth or throat or damage a tooth.
About 3 in 10 people develop a sore throat after general anesthesia. Your risk may be higher after a longer surgery or if you have a lung condition. Most sore throats get better on their own within a few days.
Your healthcare team can recommend treatments to make you more comfortable while your throat heals. Options may include:
Muscle aches
Muscle aches and back pain are both common after general anesthesia. About half of people who get general anesthesia experience muscle aches. These aches usually start within 24 hours and get better within 2 to 3 days.
One cause is succinylcholine, a medication that briefly relaxes your muscles so your anesthesia team can place a breathing tube. This medication can leave your muscles feeling stiff or sore afterward.
Back pain has a different cause. During surgery, you may lie in the same position on a firm operating table for several hours. This can put stress on the muscles and ligaments in your back, especially during longer procedures. Your surgical team uses supports to reduce this strain.
Muscle and back pain usually improve within a few days. If needed, your healthcare team may recommend treatments such as:
NSAIDs
Physical therapy for pain that lasts longer or affects your recovery
Shivering and hypothermia
Shivering is common after general anesthesia and usually starts as you wake up after surgery. Anesthesia makes it harder for your body to control its temperature, so your core temperature can drop during a procedure.
Shivering usually improves as your body warms up and often goes away within a few hours.
Your healthcare team will check your temperature and take steps to keep you warm during and after surgery. Treatment may include:
Heated blankets or forced-air warming blankets
Warmed IV fluids
Medications to stop shivering
Confusion
Feeling confused or groggy is common when you first wake up from general anesthesia. About 3 in 10 people have some signs of confusion when they first wake up. But this usually clears within minutes to a few hours. Some people may seem restless. Others may be quiet, sleepy, or have trouble paying attention.
A more serious type of confusion, called postoperative delirium, can develop during the first few days after surgery. It's more common in:
Older adults
People with memory problems
People who have several health conditions
Longer surgeries
Your healthcare team will monitor you as you wake up and look for other causes if confusion doesn't improve.
When should you seek care for general anesthesia side effects?
Most side effects from general anesthesia improve within a day or two. Contact your healthcare team if your symptoms:
Last longer than 48 hours
Are getting worse
Make it hard to complete your usual activities
Some symptoms may be signs of a more serious problem and need immediate medical care.
Get help right away if you develop:
Trouble breathing or severe shortness of breath
Chest pain
Fainting or loss of consciousness
Severe or repeated vomiting
New or worsening confusion
Trouble eating or drinking
A high fever
Severe pain that isn't getting better
It's always reasonable to contact your healthcare team for advice if something doesn’t feel right after anesthesia.
Frequently asked questions
Conscious sedation, sometimes called twilight sedation, helps prevent pain and may keep you from remembering a procedure. You’ll be able to breathe on your own. Serious side effects are rare. Common side effects include:
Drowsiness or fatigue
Headache
Pain where the medication was given
Nausea or vomiting
Brief muscle jerking or twitching
Local anesthesia numbs one part of your body without putting you to sleep. It's commonly used for procedures like getting stitches or having dental work. Serious side effects are very rare. Common side effects include:
Pain, tenderness, or bruising where the medication was given
Itching or soreness
Temporary numbness
How long it takes for anesthesia to leave your body depends on the type of anesthesia and the medications you receive. Some medications leave your body within hours, while others can take a day or longer. You may still feel tired or groggy for a day or two after sedation or general anesthesia.
The time it takes for anesthesia depends on the medication. Some anesthetics wear off within minutes of stopping them. Others can affect you for several hours. Even if you feel normal, some effects can last longer. Make sure to follow your healthcare team's instructions about driving and other activities after anesthesia.
Local anesthesia shouldn't make you feel tired for several days, because it works mainly in the area where it's given. Contact your healthcare team if you feel tired or fatigued after local anesthesia.
Conscious sedation, sometimes called twilight sedation, helps prevent pain and may keep you from remembering a procedure. You’ll be able to breathe on your own. Serious side effects are rare. Common side effects include:
Drowsiness or fatigue
Headache
Pain where the medication was given
Nausea or vomiting
Brief muscle jerking or twitching
Local anesthesia numbs one part of your body without putting you to sleep. It's commonly used for procedures like getting stitches or having dental work. Serious side effects are very rare. Common side effects include:
Pain, tenderness, or bruising where the medication was given
Itching or soreness
Temporary numbness
How long it takes for anesthesia to leave your body depends on the type of anesthesia and the medications you receive. Some medications leave your body within hours, while others can take a day or longer. You may still feel tired or groggy for a day or two after sedation or general anesthesia.
The time it takes for anesthesia depends on the medication. Some anesthetics wear off within minutes of stopping them. Others can affect you for several hours. Even if you feel normal, some effects can last longer. Make sure to follow your healthcare team's instructions about driving and other activities after anesthesia.
Local anesthesia shouldn't make you feel tired for several days, because it works mainly in the area where it's given. Contact your healthcare team if you feel tired or fatigued after local anesthesia.
The bottom line
It’s normal to worry about how you’ll feel after general anesthesia. Most side effects are mild and don’t last long. Your healthcare team will also watch you closely during and after surgery for any problems. You may feel tired or groggy for a day or two as your body recovers. Contact your healthcare team if symptoms get worse or don’t improve as expected. Seek medical care right away for serious symptoms like trouble breathing, chest pain, or severe vomiting.
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References
Alfonsi, P., et al. (2019). Prevalence of hypothermia on admission to recovery room remains high despite a large use of forced-air warming devices: Findings of a non-randomized observational multicenter and pragmatic study on perioperative hypothermia prevalence in France. PLOS One.
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Card, E., et al. (2015). Emergence from general anaesthesia and evolution of delirium signs in the post-anaesthesia care unit. British Journal of Anaesthesia.
Hickmott, K. C., et. al. (1990). Back pain following general anesthesia and surgery: Evaluation of risk factors and the effect of an inflatable lumbar support. British Journal of Surgery.
Li, T., et al. (2025). Pathomechanism of postoperative delirium: Systemic inflammatory response and neuroinflammation following anesthesia/surgery. Neuroscience.
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Schreiber, J. U., et al. (2005). Prevention of succinylcholine-induced fasciculation and myalgia: A meta-analysis of randomized trials. Anesthesiology.
Sessler, D. I. (2016). Perioperative thermoregulation and heat balance. Lancet.
Sizemore, D. C., et al. (2022). Postoperative nausea. StatPearls.
Wang, G., et. al. (2021). Comparative efficiency of 6 topical pharmacological agents for preventive interventions of postoperative sore throat after tracheal intubation: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Anesthesia and Analgesia.
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