In most cases, a person will start to wake up from anesthesia within a few minutes after the procedure, but it can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours to fully recover
. The type of anesthesia and the length of the procedure can impact how long it takes to regain consciousness
. Factors that affect wake-up time from anesthesia:
- Type and dosage of anesthetic drugs Short-acting drugs, such as propofol, lead to a quicker recovery
- Individual metabolism People metabolize drugs at different rates
- Age and overall health Older adults and those with certain health conditions may take longer to wake up
- Length of the procedure Longer surgeries might require more anesthetic, leading to a longer wake-up time
If a patient doesn’t wake up 30 to 60 minutes after general anesthesia, it is called delayed emergence
. In these instances, medications may be administered to promote wakefulness and counteract the residual effects of the anesthetics used during surgery