Question:
Swallowing Pain Medicine
Just wondering how we are able to to swallow our pain meds? My surgery is next week and I have been prescribed liquid vicodan. It says on the bottle to take 2 ml- 6ml (they gave me a little oral syringe that measures 2 ml) as needed for pain. But that seems like a lot to swallow at one time right out the shoot! And I've taken it before so I know how DISGUSTING it tastes- not sippable! Will I be able to swallow it all at once? — jtaormina (posted on March 24, 2009)
March 24, 2009
I'm assuming you mean pain meds for right after surgery? I had the push
button pump while in the hospital but didn't need any pain med after day 3.
If I did, I used liquid tylenol. It goes down well and works great. Don't
know if this will help you any. I wish you all the luck!!! I'm 5 months out
and life is good!
— robinjyoung
March 24, 2009
I used the liquid Vicodin for a couple weeks after surgery. It was fine. No
problem swallowing the amount.
— trible
March 24, 2009
5cc's or 5ml's is only one teaspoon and shouldn't be a problem. As far as
tasting badly goes- when you're in pain, you'll find a way to get past it
to get some relief. I was prescribed liquid lortab w/ tylenol
(hydrocodone) and had to take 15ml's (a tablespoon) and no problem. Best of
luck.
— DawnVic
March 24, 2009
I just crushed pills and put in a little applesauce...It's hard to learn
how to swallow at first...and you learn to handle some pretty gross tasting
stuff when you KNOW you have to! You should be able to do it after
surgery...Might take some practice though! LOL
— .Anita R.
March 24, 2009
Yes, I too used the liquid form of Vicodin. I've taken pilled Vicodin for
years for severe headaches. Ask you surgeon how much to swallow--I'd assume
you'd start out with 2ml and take more if needed. I did not find the green
liquid Vicodin bad tasting at all. Remember though, it may take you a long
time to drink any liquid initially as a post op. So I'd drink it straight,
and not try to dilute it. I remember taking that magnesium drink as a
"clean out" before a sigmoidoscopy years ago. I diluted the drink
in a 12 oz canned drink. It just pronlonged the agony, and it took me 1 1/2
hours to drink it. DAVE
— Dave Chambers
March 24, 2009
I took liquid Tylenol with Codeine after an open RNY. I had to dilute it
in half with water due to the sweetness of the syrup. It goes down well
and works relatively quick. Originally I had crushed a Darvocet N-100 and
mixed it with applesauce. The taste is horrendous! Due to back issues I
continued on the Tylenol #3. Goood luck-Barb
— babs71958
March 24, 2009
I'm the same as Robin. I never had to take pain meds after the 3rd day.
If you need to take it, you will be fine. Perhaps trying the liquid
tylenol to see if it will relieve pain first. That is teaspoons full, but
I haven't had problems with it.
— Dawn A.
March 24, 2009
Not sure what surgery you are having. I had Lap RNY and they gave us
percocet tabs broken in half with water right out of the OR. 6 cc is just
a teaspoon, you'll have no problem. But if you're a lap surgery you
shouldn't have too much pain. I had 14 incisions, 3 hour surgery, and my
last pain med was the 3rd day when I had an extra strength Tylenol. Good
luck.
— mountainmike
March 24, 2009
I also took liquid tylenol w/codeine at home. It was nasty tasting and I
had to take two or three tiny sips to get it down,it was sickly sweet, BUT
it was doable. If you hurt you will find a way. Just hold your breath and
take a tiny sip of water right after to get the taste out of your mouth.
— corky1057
March 25, 2009
I had a iv with a pump to push and I think I used it 3 times and it was
only before they were going to move me to x-ray or take out the drainage
tube. Maybe you wo't need it either.
— tonitoot
March 25, 2009
Hi Julie, I had the same problem with liquid percocet, the taste made me
gag, but the great thing is they gave you a oral syringe! What I did was
fill the syringe to the amount u need, then tilt your head back, close your
throat and squirt it to the back of your throat, that was you bypass most
of your taste buds! Then follow it with a SMALL sip of juice or water, I
found juice better to cleanse my mouth. It works great, try to practice it
NOW using water in the syringe, hope this helps and best wishes for a
speedy recovery and new life to follow!!! =)
— Tammy M.
March 27, 2009
yes, i swallowed 2 tsp at a time, with a sip of water (yUCK!)
— clg6n
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